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Multiple land use in South Africa
The students from the participating institutions will be divided into three groups. Within the context of the study area, each group should conduct a comprehensive field survey/observation, which include identification, fact finding inquiries, and evaluation of the different land uses in the farm. The groups will conduct field observations within the following contexts:
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Strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats of the present form of multiple land use in terms of the changes in micro-climatic patterns (what are the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? And why are interventions critical?)
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Strategic and operational plans to mitigate identified negative impacts of climate change on the farm (what are the long- and short-term plans to ensure more resilient landscape and ecosystem for optimum production, food security and sustained land quality?)
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Entrepreneurial opportunities to ensure sustainable, viable and resilient production of benefits, including valorization of wastes as potential business opportunities. Each group selects one out of identified list for in-depth analysis (what are the entrepreneurial opportunities available within and around the farm that can guarantee circular economy and optimum gain?)
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Conduct needs assessment for a robust climate-smart multiple land use approach (what are the important components, once off or periodically, needed to ensure the efficient implementation of climate-smart multiple land use framework?)
Climate-smart, resilient forestry/ agriculture production landscapes
Students from four partner started work on project topic " Climate-smart, resilient forestry/ agriculture production landscapes in their various Institutions and collaborative work was conducted through remote working tools in addition to the field work.
Nelson Mandela University Fort Cox University, Häme University of Applied Sciences & Tshwane University of Technology students worked on the topic.
In addition, students used the opportunity to network, share knowledge and acquire new skills from each other and also mentors who provided guidance to the students throughout the task.
Development of new, high value engineered
products in the saw milling value chain
The main challenge of recovering more sawn timber from logs, is of course the
fact that a log is round and sawn timber is square. Engineered wood products often allows the use of the round edges in the product since it can be covered in the gluing process.
Many products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), glued laminated timber (glulam), double sheet panels, duo and trio beams, and perhaps even new
product types offers the opportunity to include rounded edges that can
be hidden by positioning it correctly.
This approach is not currently used in industry but might have the potential to significantly improve the volume recovery and profitability of a saw milling operation.The broader objectives are to identify avenues for novel engineered
wood products which have improved processing efficiency (volume recovery), environmental impact, and profitability of a sawmilling operation by including wane (rounded edges) into the final product.
Similarly, interventions to optimize the usage of waste raw materials and reduce the environmental impact of current products and processes are also welcome.