Timber iQ October - November 2017 // Issue: 34 | Page 10

EVENTS
hoping to fetch a good price is inefficient, slow and
financially risky.
The ability to cut quality sawn timber onsite that can be
sent directly by boat to market in larger volumes with
higher selling price guaranteed means a more stable
trading environment with more money in the
sawmillers pocket.
Wood-Mizer’s modular design allow sawmillers to grow
their businesses over time with more capacity added as
income grows.
A full range of power options including petrol, diesel
and electric motors give sawmillers the flexibility to
choose the power option that fit their needs the best.
Blades that are designed to cut African hardwoods
effectively together with a full range of blade maintenance
equipment, give sawmillers the ability to maintain blades
independently at prescribed standards in the
remotest location.
Broad socio-economic and environmental sustainability
is also set to benefit from Wood-Mizer’s presence
in Mbandaka.
The impact of a revived timber economy on the long-
term wellbeing of Mbandaka and Equateur is still to be
determined. That the inflow of cash will spur innovation
and inject fresh momentum into the local economy is
without doubt.
Wood-Mizer and ConneX Forestry are also coordinating
PM
efforts to 2Hor180X130.pdf
replant areas in 2 the 2017/04/06
rainforest 12:38
that have
Chainsaw-cut sawn timber sits in the harbour before departure
for Kinshasa. It takes four months to cut 10 cubic meters of
timber into sawn product.
disappeared due to logging activities. Less wastage and
higher recovery means less trees will be cut down to
produce sawn material from.
ConneX’s activities in Mbandaka includes identifying
areas that require replanting and the species that are
endemic to these areas. The long-term goal is to reinforce
the message that timber has value and that replanting
trees can protect biodiversity and create a sustainable
timber business that can last for generations.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Johannesburg
8
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2017 //