Wood For Work

About us

Wood for Work is owned by Dirk Pretorius and although a young company the affiliation to SMC Synergy and experienced partners provides the foundation for the successful implementation of woody biomass management and value adding projects. This would be achieved through partnerships with academic, private as well as governmental institutions.

Services

Mapping and prioritising of land degradation

Mapping and prioritising of land degradation through the use of geo-informatics, the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) mapping system as well as field surveys.

Collecting of baseline data

Collecting baseline data for monitoring and evaluation using various sources – satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, fixed wing aircraft.

Partnerships with removal teams

Partnerships with woody biomass removal/thinning teams. We partnered with Eco Rhythm Management (www.ecorhythm.co.za) who has vast experience in rehabilitation management and community development programmes.

Evaluate and establish secondary industries

Evaluation and establishment of value adding/secondary industries (fire wood, charcoal, and biochar) is one of our main focus areas.

Capacity building and training

Capacity building and training through collaboration with academic institutions (North West University) and other service providers e.g. Eco Rhythm Management.

Wood for Work also provides support towards mineral exploration projects

Other services

Wood for Work can also assist various sectors in project management and monitoring with a special focus on natural resource management and mineral exploration projects.

GIS Software

Global Mapper is affordable and easy to use GIS software that offers access to an unparalleled variety of spatial datasets and provides just the right level of GIS functionality to satisfy both experienced GIS professionals and mapping novices. Global Mapper is distributed by SMC Synergy and MBV Ubumbano in Africa. For more information visit: www.smc-synergy.co.za

News

Wood for Work demonstrates prototype rotary biochar kiln

Wood for Work recently demonstrated their newly developed rotary portable biochar kiln to various interested parties. The development is a joint effort between Wood for Work (Piet van Deventer and ...

Wood for Work presented a Tech Talk on Biochar at A LaRSSA workshop on 31 August 2023

Piet van Deventer and Dirk Pretorius from Wood for Work and Michael Lilje from Orizon presented a Tech Talk on biochar, charcoal and compost at a LaRSSA workshop on 31 August 2023. The workshop ...

Wood for Work presentation at the 58th GSSA Conference - Carbon credits from biochar can reduce the cost of bush encroachment restoration

Wood for Work presented the use of biochar in regenerative agriculture at GWK during July 2023

Dirk Pretorius and Piet van Deventer recently met with managers of GWK to discuss te possibilities of using biochar in regenerative agriculture. All aspects of biochar were discussed - from suitable ...

Wood for Work signs Memorandum of Understanding with Orizon Agriculture

Orizon is an agricultural services company specializing in Carbon Credit Project Development within the agricultural, ecosystem conservation or related sectors and further performs other services ...

Wood for Work assisting diamond miners in Windsorton with Kimberlite exploration

Wood for Work was contracted during August 2022 by Gem of Diamonds to assist with the management of a diamond exploration project in the Windsorton area of the Northern Cape. A desktop analysis was ...

Spekboom cutting root development within 5 weeks

Wood for Work collaboration with Hive Ecosystems

Wood for Work recently (2022) assisted Hive Ecosystems (Hive Carbon) with the enrichment of biochar with organic fertilisers and microbes which was used to grow spekboom ...

SMC Synergy and Wood for Work to evaluate the role of enriched biochar in Agriculture

SMC Synergy and sister company Wood for Work is currently evaluating the role of enriched biochar in the agricultural sector. Opportunities to obtain research and development funding were recently ...

The pyrolysis kiln used to produce biochar from different biomass sources

Testing biochar produced from various biomass sources

Wood for Work with partners Piet and Nico van Deventer are currently analysing and comparing biochar produced from various biomass sources. These properties are crucial to consider when applying ...

The effect of biochar and other soil conditioners clearly visible on root development of spekboom

First tests with biochar and soil conditioners on root development of spekboom (Portulacaria Afra)

Wood for Work with partners (Piet van Deventer) are currently investigating the effect of biochar and other soil conditioners on root development of spekboom cuttings. The biochar is ...

Wood for Work visits Tree Care PTA

Dirk Pretorius from Wood for Work recently visited the offices of ...

A visit to Hive Carbon in Gqeberha

Dirk Pretorius of Wood for Work recently visited Hive Carbon in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to investigate the production of biochar from alien ...