Sharing the value of trees
As the leading producer of wood-based decorative panels in Africa, PG Bison believes in the value of trees. We have planted more than 18 million trees since 2018 and have 43 817 hectares under plantation.
Apart from its plantation in the Northeastern Cape, PG Bison owns and manages plantations in the Southern Cape.
Our Southern Cape cluster supplies structural timber, custom-cut component solutions, and timber poles under the brands Thesen and Woodline, respectively, into the Southern and Western Cape. The trees we grow in the PG Bison Southern Cape Forest are the Pinus Radiata species, which is of a higher density than many other pine species, with exceptional strength, durability, and quality. The region provides the ideal environment for the species.
National Arbor Week
To raise awareness about the importance of trees for a sustainable environment, the PG Bison Southern Cape Forest recently donated ten trees in a symbolic gesture to support planting activities for National Arbor Week. The trees were donated to two local communities in Knysna and Sedgefield.
Arbor Week is an opportunity to reflect on forestry and the conservation of trees in different parts of the country. It is also a great time to plant trees as a practical and symbolic way of preserving the environment.
PG Bison’s Projects Manager for the Southern Cape Forest, Heine Muller, says that trees play a role in the sustainable development and the livelihoods of people and their environment. He encourages communities to participate in various greening activities within their surroundings.
“The purpose of this initiative is to get the communities involved in the ‘greening’ of their environment and to create awareness of the value trees,” he says.
Ensuring fibre security
PG Bison has been focusing on re-planting its Southern Cape plantations, which were affected by the forest fires in 2017. We currently plant three trees for every tree that we harvest.
“Fibre security is essential for the sustainable future of any processing plant. This helps ensure the continued supply of raw materials to produce finished goods,” says Heine.
PG Bison’s NECF plantations in Ugie are accredited by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), and PG Bison is a member of Forestry South Africa (FSA), which oversees the environmental standards for forestry in South Africa.
