GEORGE NEWS - With the first Southern African regional meeting of the International Forestry Students Association to be held at the NMMU George campus from 13 to 15 July, Forestry student Natassja Brits was given the opportunity to represent the Saasveld Forestry Association at the Asia Regional meeting in May this year.

Held in Kyoto, Japan, Brits delivered a presentation on Forestry and the Forest Industry in South Africa.

"These regional meetings afford students the opportunity to learn and experience the different characteristics of forestry abroad first-hand. It is a fantastic platform for sharing information, ideas and broadening of students' conceptual framework and thinking," enthuses Natassja, who lived in Japan previously and was able to converse with the locals in Japanese.

The George event will be hosted by the Saasveld Forestry Association - the professional association for Forestry students at NMMU George - in conjunction with the IFSA.

Topics that will be highlighted at the George symposium include ‘Forestry in 3D: Sustainability’ by Prof Christo Fabricius, NMMU, and ‘The significance and application of the Forestry Charter’ by Pasco Dyani, Forestry Charter. Other speakers include Prof Josh Louw and Mike Cameron (both from NMMU George), Rob Thompson (NCT, SAIF), Willem Jacobs (MTO), Cori Ham and Ben du Toit (both from the University of Stellenbosch).


Natassja Brits, from NMMU George, and the Kyoto University Organizing Committee President, Takuya Ito. Both are wearing ARM 2011 and IFSA Kyoto T-shirts.