Nick Domleo

Recently moved back form harvesting to Silviculture

I was involved in the harvesting and transport of timber form the plantations to the Mondi Mill in Richardsbay varying from 300000 to 500000 t annually, this involved:

1) Planning and administration tasks relating to the operations and dealing with contractors of the various operations. This includes setting up budgets and Annual Plan of Operations (APO).

2) Manage all aspect of Safety Health and Environment as per Mondi policies and procedures and ensure compliance to certification requirements (FSC and ISO)

3)I was also responsible to ensure the correct quality of the timber produced as per Mill specifications.

4) Record and monitor stock levels at depots and to provide financial forecasts of the Months work. I would compile a monthly report on all operations to submit to the Business Unit manager.

5) Assist with the planning and implementation of Capex road building.

This work required commitment as it is a 24hr operation that operated most days of the year and failure to plan appropriately would mean trucks standing, one was often required to go out after hours to attend to problems.

My roles and responsibilities in the position of managing Dukuduku plantation were as follows:

1) Drawing up and managing a plantation budget.

2) Fire protection planning and implementation of the plan as well managing fire fighting activities.

3) Maintaining a relationship with neighbours namely Isimangaliso wetland Park and managing th incorporation agreement.

4) Implementation of the planting and weeding plans.

5) Stock control of seedlings.

6) Ensuring compliance to FSC and ISO certification regulations.

7) Buildings and facilities management plans and inspections.

8) Conservation management plans including alien weeds and strategic burning.

During this time I managed the following aspects of Mondis' Umfolozi area:

1) Compiling of the Silviculture budget for the area.

2) Managing fixed cost expenditure.

3)Managed foresters on four Work Plan Units.

4) Implemented modernisation plans as per Mondis requirement to reduce ergonomically poor and unsafe tasks in the plantations.

5) Managed contactors doing various tasks including: security, roads maintenance and garden services.

6) Compile monthly reports and financial forecasts for all operations.

7) Manage fire plans and engage in fire fighting activities.

During my time here I managed:

1) Silviculture and convervation budgets and plans (APOs).

2) Fire protection management and plans.

3)Security contractor management.

4) Facilities management (maintenance of workshops, staff accomodation etc.)

5) FSC certification conformance for the plantation.

6) Community engagement. (Farmers and traditional land owners)

Highlights include: the planning and planting up of old sugar cane lands to eucalyptus plantations as Mondi had purchased farms adjacent to the plantation and seeing through the illegal use of land by a local cattle owner.

During this time I managed:

1) Teams of labour approximately 150 strong, including disciplinary issues and labour law conflicts.

2) Managing and planning Silviculture operations including safety and production records.

3) Stock management of tools, fertilizer, fuel and chemicals.

4) Dealing with company representatives from SAPPI.

5) Keeping production records and invoicing of work complete on a monthly basis.

During this time I managed to improve productivity in operations by implementing a systems approach,

At this point I was involved in the following:

1) Starting up chemical spray teams and managing quality and productivity.

2) Fire fighting operations for SAPPI and Hans Merensky. This included preparation of tracer belts and fire break burning.

3) Planting and pitting operations using manual teams.

4) Pine thinning operations for Hans Merensky.

5) Cold tolerant gum harvesting for SAPPI using semi- mechanised systems.