DEVELOPMENTAL PRIORITIES AND SECTOR PLAN
4. Strategies
4.2.12. MUNICIPAL MANAGER: FORESTRY DIVISION
147 town plan, community visions, the cultural plan, the active transportation plan, sustainability initiatives, economic strategy, and the community facility plan.
Despite the fact that additional resources have been consistently applied to Mkhondo Municipality’s capital budget in recent years, the demand and cost of services has grown at a pace that exceeds the municipality’s fund- ing capability. The gap is steadily growing between the demand for service and the ability to fund both mainte- nance of deteriorating infrastructure and acquisition and construction of new infrastructure. This "Infrastructure Gap" represents a significant challenge to Mkhondo Municipality for the foreseeable future.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
The municipality has two financial management systems which
1. Munsoft system is used for procurement, Billing and day to day transactions.
2. VIP system is used for payroll administration and payment.
VALUATION ROLL
The municipality has appointed the valuer for the preparation of 2014 valuation roll and currently the valuer have evaluated all properties in Mkhondo and the valuation roll is available in the municipality.
148
Increased contribution of the sector to economic growth and development
Effective and efficient governance
Mkhondo Municipality is a local sphere of government and seeks to adhere to the National strategic goals set by DAFF.
Mkhondo Municipality falls under the Gert Sibande District and is the main link for both industrial and commercial transport from Gauteng to the import/export harbour at Richards Bay.
Mkhondo is surrounded by forestry plantations with economic activities such as timber, paper and wattle bark production as well as other mining products. Three major sawmills; Mondi, Tafriba, and PG Bison are located outside of town. Whereas Mondi, Sappi, TWK and Komatiland Forests are the major companies that lead the forestry industry in the area. The annual rainfall is estimated to be 920mm per annum with an average annual temperature of 16.6ºC (climate-data.org).
Mkhondo Local Municipality is the only municipality in the whole of the Mpumalanga Province that owns a bio- logical forestry asset with an estimate of 3900 hectares (ha) of Forestry land. The commercial species include various Eucalypts, Pine (P. patula and P. elliottii) and Acarcia meanrnsii. The plantation is spread throughout Mkhondo stretching from Mahamba and Houdkop road, Iswepe and Amsterdam. It is evident that in the past the asset has generated revenue for the municipality allowing it to improve service delivery. From 2013 to 2014 the value of the biological asset has increased by R19 832 658-00. The Forestry Division has employed 269 employees of which constitute 26 permanent staff members, 59 EPWP workers, and the balance being local contractors. The municipality is committed to sustaining the asset and in the process of investigating alternative ways of managing the plantation independently of municipal functions.
KEY ISSUES
• Increase in population and competition for land
• Fire risk
• Pest and Diseases
• Invader Plant Control
• Global climate change
• Mechanisation/Modernisation
149
• Management data/systems
• Timber theft
• Financing the forestry operations
• Insufficient staff due to budget constraints
• Limited expertise
OBJECTIVES
To achieve sustainable forest management that is economically viable, socially beneficial, and environmentally acceptable.
STRATEGIES Sustainability Economically viable
Sustained production of wood fibre from one rotation to the next
Maximising profit through timber sales and therefore enhancing service delivery and minimise costs Socially beneficial
Creating local employment opportunities
Skills development through training
Skills transfer
Environmentally acceptable
Maintaining key ecosystem processes likely to affect the sustained production of Net Primary Production and site biomass
Integrated Forest Management Plan
150
Increasing the biotic potential of the plantation through planting genetically improved material or correct species choice
Applying silvicultural practices to manipulate resource availability favourably
Improve site quality
Integrated Environmental Management Plan
Forest plantations have been declared a stream-flow reduction activity and therefore it is important to balance productivity and sustainability by optimising use of water resources
Manage poor silvicultural and harvesting practices that will result in soil erosion
Conservation and protection of all natural fauna and flora
Management of invasive exotic plant species
RISK MANAGEMENT
Integrated Fire Management Plan
Assess fire hazard at regional and plantation level
Determine fire protection requirements in the landscape
Establish effective firebreak systems and buffer zones
Disaster management
Control over fire protection programme
Diseases and pests of Eucalyptus, Pine and Acacia species
Collect sample of infected plants or insects for submission for confirmation by experts (Tree Protection Co-oper- ative Programme) TPCP.
Certification
Apply for the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. FSC certification provides a mechanism for compa- nies, organisations and communities to demonstrate their commitment to generally accepted societal values and thereby affirm that products and services originating from a certified forest are produced in a responsible manner.
151 MITIGATION OF RISKS
Transfer risk out the system Tolerate low and medium risks Terminate the risk by removing it
Treat the risks through company policies and procedures and identify controls that would mitigate the root cause of any high risk activity.
INTENDED OUTCOME
The intention of the forestry asset is to maximise profit through sustainable management of social, economic and environmental practices and therefore improve service delivery to the community.
152