Mondi - Ecosystems and biodiversity conservation

As monocultures, our forests have an impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, particularly on fresh water systems and grasslands.

Degradation of ecosystems is a problem particularly in South Africa, where the protection of ecosystems is now critical for the maintenance of biodiversity. We are working with key stakeholders to address threats to ecosystems. We have been working with NGOs and academic institutions to improve our understanding of plantation water issues.

It has long been recognised that in some areas, plantation forestry reduces stream flow. In contrast, the maintenance of good quality water is generally a positive impact. Because Mondi’s commercial activities (commercial forests and processing plants) use significant volumes of water, they also rely on healthy wetlands and riparian zones.

Wetlands play a pivotal role in the management of water flows, including the purification and storage of water. They control erosion, reduce the severity of droughts and floods by regulating stream flow, recharging underground aquifers, and are also vital for biodiversity protection, tourism, environmental education, grazing, subsistence agriculture, and as a source of food and plant materials for rural communities. Their health is therefore critical for sustainable development. The continued destruction of these wetlands would result in the disappearance of these priceless wetland functions and values, and would result in South Africa having less pure water, less reliable water supplies, increased flooding, lower agricultural productivity, and more endangered species.

Increasing pressure on the availability of fresh water as a result of population growth and rising economic activity will place greater strains on fresh water resources. In 2010, we launched a project to clearly define our global water footprint. Mondi is also the principal sponsor of the Mondi Wetlands Programme (MWP), a partnership between Mondi and South Africa’s two largest NGO conservation organizations, WWF South Africa and WESSA, together with the Mazda Wildlife Fund. The programme is making an important contribution to the protection and rehabilitation of wetlands and riparian areas in South Africa and, through WWF, has achieved international recognition for its success in bringing about social change that encourages wetland users and owners to manage their wetland resources in a more environmentally friendly manner.

The following table refers to the high conservation value areas that are preserved on Mondi land:

High conservation area type	hectares
Grasslands preserved	44,012
Wetlands preserved	20,738
Natural indigenous forests	12,273

Of importance to Mondi is the property inscribed on the World Heritage List which borders on Mondi property, namely the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (1999). iSimangaliso Wetland Park has also been listed as a Ramsar wetland of International importance.

Preserving a critical resource – wetlands in South Africa

Mondi’s South African plantations are located in a part of the world where fresh water is a scarce resource and where an estimated 6 million people do not have access to sufficient potable water to satisfy their needs. Furthermore, an estimated 55% of South Africa’s wetlands have been significantly damaged due to poorly managed agriculture, commercial forestry, mining, urban development, pollution, dam building, erosion and fire. Wetlands and water also play a vital role in biodiversity protection, tourism, environmental education, grazing, subsistence agriculture, and are a source of food and plant materials for rural communities. Because Mondi’s commercial activities (commercial forests and processing plants) use significant volumes of water, they also rely on healthy wetlands and riparian zones.

With the support of the MWP, Mondi is assessing the health of all significant wetlands on land it manages, and strengthening its wetland sustainability practices. Mondi has almost completed the process of removing all its commercial trees on or close to riparian or wetland areas, which encourages the recovery of natural freshwater resources and associated biodiversity. This has involved the loss of approximately 5% of Mondi’s productive forestry land at an opportunity cost of around €60 million a year.