Conservation and environment

Southern Africa change region

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	Current projects
	Sandiso Imvelo/GreenForBlue
	Sandisa Imvelo (Growing Nature) is Sappi's greening and tree growing programme. Every year we plant 1,000s of indigenous trees in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, mostly with business partners. In 2008 Volvo Car South Africa teamed up with Sappi Southern Africa to create an opportunity for every Volvo buyer to drive his or her car with a clear conscience. Volvo Car SA and Sappi launched the 'GreenForBlue'-project; an incentive for every Volvo buyer to minimise the effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the Volvo they drive by having a number of indigenous trees planted to offset the carbon dioxide (CO₂) that will be released. Tree saplings are bought from the 'Trees for Life Project', where learners from schools in local communities grow and trade saplings for school fees and goods such as food, clothes, garden tools and bicycles. In this way the Volvo and Sappi brands show a further side to their approach to caring, namely their care for people and communities. In the first year R250,000 was spent on trees.
	Arbor Week
		Sappi has long supported Arbor Week. Tree planting opportunities are used by mills and forests to build relations with their communities. Tree planting has also been used to link Sappi to major events (outdoor shows, youth leadership camps). Every year Sappi donates and plants hundreds of trees under this programme.
	BirdLife SA
	Sappi is one of the largest landowners in South Africa and the conservator of many bird species. Our relationship and support of BirdLife SA is longstanding. Currently we support the design and production of: gift membership packs; marketing and brand material, Fast and Featherless (MTB cycle fundraising team), and we sponsor the billboard advertising.
	Aquariums
		Sappi currently supports the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town with the 'Sappi River Meander' and the 'Sappi Seal Platform' adjacent to the aquarium in the harbour (R2 million). Previously we have also supported the Bayworld Aquarium in Port Elizabeth (R1 million).
	Bird hides
	In keeping with Sappi's commitment to conservation, the company has sponsored the construction and maintenance of bird hides in the Kruger National Park (eg Sable Dam) and the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve (eg Mankwe) amongst many others.
	Beach clean-up
		Impacting communities in and around our coastal mills. Sappi mills participate in beach clean-up activities. Together with Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife we have been part of this global clean-up programme since it's inception in 1997.

	Sappi WWF Projects (Past and present)
	Supporting eco-tourism projects that make a contribution to the conservation of threatened wetlands and forests:
	Wakkerstroom Conservation and Training Centre
	The partnership supported the purchase of a key section of the Wakkerstroom wetland and the upgrade of the farm buildings into a guide training and environmental education centre through a capital investment of R1 million. Wakkerstroom is a critical bird breeding and transit area, and one of the most important recreational birding areas in the country. Since inception the Wakkerstroom centre has facilitated the training of over 200 field guides and hosted 1,000s of scholars. Now managed by BirdLife SA, the centre has evolved into a base for birders that converge on Wakkerstroom annually and for 'birdlife travel', which is recognised as one of the most innovative and successful grass roots eco-tourism networks in the country.
	Thonga Beach Lodge and Mabibi Campsite
		The partnership supported the development of this benchmark community-public-private-partnership through a capital grant of R945,000 and significant on-going capacity building within the Mabibi community. The capital grant was used by the Mabibi community to leverage a 68% shareholding in the lodge development company. Since opening in August 2004, the lodge has enjoyed exceptional occupancy rates, allowing for the creation of 45 permanent jobs for the community and yearly dividends to the community. The Thonga Beach Lodge partnership is recognised as an exceptional rural development and conservation partnership. The project was the first concession within the greater iSimangaliso wetland world heritage area and has hosted numerous South African and international dignitaries. The adjoining Mabibi Campsite, which has created an additional eight permanent jobs, was upgraded after Sappi's sponsorship of almost R1 million.
	Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk
	The partnership supported the construction of the 125m Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk, 20m high observation tower and interpretive centre through a combined capital investment of R1.2 million. Since opening, the boardwalk has been visited by over 19,000 visitors, and has catalysed the development of tourism in the greater Eshowe region. The boardwalk has raised the profile of Zululand’s 'great forests', leading to the district municipality launching a campaign aimed at developing the eco-tourism potential of these forests.
	Ongoye Forest Birding Camp
		The partnership has supported the development of self-catering accommodation for birders within this world-renowned forest and grassland reserve. The camp is run through a community conservation partnership between the Mzimela community and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. BirdLife SA supports this partnership with emphasis on integrating the development into the Zululand birding route. The initial investment of R360,000 has already leveraged over R1 million from the Uthungulu District Municipality.
	Marhutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk
	The partnership’s grant of R1 million has supported the establishment of a 150m boardwalk jetties and outlook through this magnificent patch of scarp forest on the outskirts of Bulwer. The project includes the rehabilitation of 30ha of Wattle infested grassland and the establishment of an interpretive centre. The project is managed by the Bulwer Biosphere. The boardwalk serves as a hub for the development of a network of nature-based attractions in partnership with Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and the Ingwe Municipality, and is also intergrated into the Southern KwaZulu-Natal birding route. The boardwalk has significantly contributed to the ongoing growth of the eco-tourism industry within the greater Bulwer/Underberg region.
	Karkloof Conservation Centre
		The partnership worked with the local community to develop a Crane Conservation Centre that supports the activities of the Karkloof Conservancy and the Karkloof Tourism Association. The Karkloof Valley is home to an amazing range of key bio-diversity, ranging from wetland and riverine habitat to scarp forest and mistbelt grassland.
	Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route
	Managed by BirdLife SA, visitors are encouraged to extend their birding holidays to the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route, which comprises stakeholders from across the southern half of the province and is subdivided into five regions: ‘Zulu Roots’ from Zinkwazi to Durban; Ethekweni covering the greater Durban area; Midlands; Sisonke; and the South Coast.

	Past projects
	Forest boardwalk at Nelspruit Botanical Gardens
	Sappi sponsored the aerial boardwalk in the Nelspruit Botanical Gardens. Sappi thought that visitors to the garden, both local and international, should experience what it’s like to be under the canopy of a rain forest - up close and personal. The boardwalk is 360m long and in some places 4m high. It was also necessary to make allowance for the resident hippos. They roam freely through the garden at night and completely destroyed Sappi’s original ground-level walkway which was built a decade ago. This project cost R770,000.
	De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust
		The world's fastest land mammal is fast heading to extinction. The Cheetah is one of the most threatened species on earth. As their habitat shrinks and their gene pool narrows, they continue to be hunted in areas where they once enjoyed freedom. Since 1971, the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust has been working relentlessly to reverse this trend. The Trust, farming communities, NGOs, conservationists and academic institutions are collaborating to find workable solutions to the threats that endanger the future of the species. Until 2009 Sappi was a proud sponsor of the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust.
	Blue Swallow
	The blue swallow is the rarest of the swallows in southern Africa. It favours unspoilt mist-belt grasslands. The endangered Blue Swallow is feared to be the bird most likely to become extinct next in South Africa. The South African Blue Swallow population of 84 active nests is critically endangered. Sappi participated with sponsorship in a Blue Swallow research venture into Uganda during 2005, where the birds’ migratory patterns were observed to assist with conservation efforts in South Africa. Up to 2007 R320,000 was sponsored.

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