The Company’s business success is centered on sustainable management of its forestry resource and dedication towards responsible environmental management at the same time extracting maximum value out of its resources. The Wattle Company has received a number of accolades for its outstanding performance in environmental and forestry management. The Wattle company is made up of three divisions
Nyanga Pine Division
Nyanga Pine Plantations are located at Nyanga and Dunsinane Estates ,approximately 65 kilometres and 35 kilometres north of Mutare, respectively. Logs from these plantations are managed on a 20 to 25 year rotation and 450 hectares are harvested and planted annually with a potential capacity of 150 000m³ of sawlogs.
Vumba Timbers Division
Eucalyptus plantations are situated at Vumba Estate approximately 30km south-east of Mutare. The Wattle Company Limited owns and manages 4,930 hectares of land at Vumba Estates.
The Vumba Timbers Division specializes in forestry management and production of the following :
Transmission Poles, Telephone Poles, Fencing Poles and Droppers which are treated with Creosote and Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) preservatives . These products are marketed and sold throughout the SADC region and as far north as Kenya to different customers in their specific requirements.
Eucalyptus charcoal
Environmental Issues
The Vumba area is a mountainous area with unique flora and fauna. Special efforts are made to protect all pockets of indigenous evergreen mountain forest and its associated wildlife. Operations are continually undertaken to eradicate exotic invading plant species, particularly in riverine areas, wetlands and within natural forests. The Wattle Company supports “TEAM Vumba“, a community based environmental project clearing areas of undesirable exotic vegetation from the Vumba area.
Wattle Mimosa Division
The Wattle plantations are located at Chimanimani and Chipinge Estates approximately 160 kilometers and 200 kilometers, respectively, south of Mutare. Wattle Extract is produced at Silverstream Wattle Extract Factory which is situated on Chimanimani Estates.
Forestry Management and Development
The Wattle Plantations are grown on a 9 to 10 year rotation. The species grown is Black Wattle ,a native of Australia. The extent of areas harvested each year is based upon planned wattle extract sales and stocks.
The Wattle Extract
The Wattle Company Limited is the only Wattle Extract producer in Zimbabwe with a capacity to produce 6000 tons per annum. Wattle Extract is produced in solid and powder form and is used as a tannin for leather. The Company exports 99% of its product to Asia and the balance is sold locally.
Charcoal
Charcoal is produced as a residual product from the wattle tree after extraction of the bark. The Wattle Company is the leading producer and marketer of charcoal in Zimbabwe and the Region. The Company also sells packaged and branded charcoal locally to domestic and leisure markets for barbeque as VESTA.
