About Us : Membership

Almost 90% of all timber growers have representation through FSA. FSA represents and interacts on behalf of the Industry through a host of committees and bodies both within and outside the Industry in order to effectively promote its members’ interests and those of the Industry in general. For example:

NON-FSA Industry Committees:

FSA plays an important support role to a number of critical Industry institutions, and members and staff are well represented on these institutions’ committees and structures, for example:

• Institute of Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR
• Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)
• Forest Industries Education & Training Authority (FIETA)
• National Forestry Advisory Council (NFAC)
• Forestry Charter Council

NON-Industry Affiliated Committees:

Many of the issues and activities that FSA is involved in are dealt with through committees and structures established by non-forestry industry organisations. All however impact and influence forestry activities and FSA attempts to ensure that it has a presence and is represented on relevant structures. For example:

• AgriSA’s Commodity Chamber
• Kwanalu’s Property Rates Task Team
• Agrarian Reform Committee
• Working for Water
• Working for Wetlands
• Working on Fire
• Water Research Commission
• Provincial Afforestation Licence Assessment Advisory Committees (LAAC’s)
• Catchment Management Agencies (CMA’s)
• SANBI Grasslands Biodiversity Forum
• Industrial Development Corporation

Co-Operation with other Industry Organisations:

FSA co-operates with other industry organisations, especially recently with regards to the forestry sector transformation Charter. These include:

• Paper Manufacturers Association of SA (PAMSA)
• Sawmilling South Africa (SSA)
• SA Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA)
• SA Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA)

Co-Operation with Government Departments:

FSA interacts a great deal with various Government Departments but especially with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). A full list appears hereunder:

• Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
• Department of Environmental Affairs.(DEA)
• Department of Water Affairs DWA)
• Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Land Affairs. (DCGTA)
• Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. (DRDLR)
• Department Trade and Industry (DTI)
• Department of Public Enterprises (DPE)
• Department of Transport (DOT)
• Provincial Governments

International Co-Operation:

FSA sits on a number of global forums. These include:

• UN’s FAO Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products (FAO ACPWP)
• International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA)
• Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)
• International Institute for Environmental and Development (IIED)