Empowering Local Communities: The Handover of Mabama Plantation to Mashamba Traditional Council
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Makhotso Sotyu, has officially handed over the management of the Mabama plantation to the beneficiary communities of the Mashamba Traditional Council in Limpopo. This initiative is set to catalyze a new era of community-driven development in the province.
Spanning an expanse of 71.92 hectares and predominantly filled with eucalyptus trees, the Mabama plantation holds substantial potential for sustainable forestry management. This handover ceremony, taking place on a spirited Tuesday, was not merely a procedural event but a landmark decision aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of local communities within the Mashamba Traditional Council’s vicinity.
“The transfer of this plantation is a vital step towards inclusive participation in our forestry economy,” declared Deputy Minister Sotyu during her heartfelt address. She further emphasized the department’s commitment to supporting the community in transforming the plantation into a productive asset. Despite acknowledging the plantation’s current suboptimal condition for timber production, her assurance was palpable, promising necessary support for future productivity.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has laid down a comprehensive support plan, which includes initiatives like site species matching, provision of expert advisory services, and beneficiary training in sustainable forest management. This plan is part of the broader Commercial Forestry Sector Masterplan, which aims to revitalize the sector through strategic investment, growth, and transformation.
Moreover, the department is prepared to assist in the re-establishment of the plantations with seedlings provision and has shown a keen interest in connecting the communities with strategic partners to ensure the plantations’ recapitalization. “The fruition of this project resides in the community’s dedication to maintaining the land for forestry production,” stated Sotyu, highlighting the importance of community involvement.
The department is also exploring the potential integration of agroforestry— a sustainable land use practice that could diversify income sources without reducing forestry cover. This innovative approach, currently piloting, promises to set a precedent for multifunctional land use, fostering ecological balance alongside economic benefit.
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