This is where sustainability is tested: Inside Sappi’s forestry and biodiversity approach
Published On
15 April 2026
Attention is growing around how forests are managed in practice. International Day of Forests 2026, themed “Forests and economies”, puts a spotlight on their role in supporting both biodiversity and economic activity.
At the same time, demand for woodfibre-based materials is increasing, bringing greater focus to how production landscapes maintain biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
In this context, sustainability is not defined by commitments alone, but by how forests are managed in practice, on the ground, where environmental, social and economic considerations converge.
“Forestry makes sustainability tangible, because it plays out directly in how land is managed,” said Duane Roothman, Vice President, Forestry, Sappi Southern Africa. “It brings environmental, social and economic considerations into the same space and requires them to be managed in practice.”
Sappi, a global producer of woodfibre-based materials, provides one example of how this plays out. The company structures its sustainability approach around four pillars, Principles, Planet, People and Prosperity, which come together most clearly in its forestry operations.
From Roothman’s perspective, managing sustainability in forestry comes down to a small number of core elements.
Governance sets the framework, but not the outcome
Certification systems define standards and provide oversight. They establish what responsible forestry should look like.
But governance alone does not determine outcomes. How these standards are applied depends on local conditions, long-term planning and day-to-day management decisions.
Frameworks are essential, but they are a starting point. The real challenge lies in how those principles are applied in specific landscapes.
Duane Roothman, Vice President, Forestry, Sappi Southern Africa
Biodiversity requires active management
Commercial forestry in South Africa depends on plantation systems that provide a stable fibre supply. Within these landscapes, biodiversity is not a given. It needs to be actively maintained.
This takes the form of conservation areas, ecological corridors and mitigation approaches based on avoidance, minimisation, restoration and offsetting. Within its own operations, Sappi applies these measures and reports a 25.3% biodiversity improvement across its South African forestry conservation area landholdings, alongside expanded programmes focused on rare and endangered indigenous tree species.
Forests are also social landscapes
Forests are embedded in wider human environments. They intersect with rural livelihoods, water resources and local land use, shaping how forestry is experienced on the ground.
As a result, environmental and social considerations are closely linked. Long-term viability depends not only on ecological outcomes, but on how forestry practices are integrated into surrounding communities.
“Forestry does not happen in isolation,” Roothman said. “It takes place in landscapes where communities live and work, so those relationships are an integral part of how sustainability is managed.”
Ecosystem health underpins long-term value
Sappi’s products, including pulp, packaging materials and biomaterials, rely on a consistent supply of renewable woodfibre. That supply is directly linked to the health and productivity of forest ecosystems.
Changes in ecosystem condition therefore affect both biodiversity and future fibre availability, connecting environmental performance with long-term business resilience.
Taken together, these elements show how sustainability in forestry is shaped in practice. As demand for renewable materials grows, the way these factors are managed will play an increasingly important role in determining outcomes across the sector.
For more information, please visit Sappi’s latest Group Sustainability Report
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