In one of South Africa's first complete GIS outsourcing agreements, AfriGIS has negotiated a contract for the management of the South African Forestry Company Limited's (SAFCOL) corporate GIS services as part of SAFCOL's current ongoing privatisation process.

As owners of a substantial portion of South Africa's saw-timber plantations, stretching from the Northern Province to the Western Cape, SAFCOL contributes significantly to the country's timber supplies.

"Our objective is to link up with SAFCOL's in-house GIS team-members for the provision of the relevant GIS expertise," explains AfriGIS Managing Director Magnus Rademeyer. "Consequently, a sister company, known as AfriGIS Environmental and consisting of both AfriGIS and previously employed SAFCOL employees as shareholders has been formed to supply these mission-critical services. Rademeyer continues that AfriGIS will assist in researching advanced GIS technology such as airborne laser surveys in applicable forestry applications to support SAFCOL's decision-making processes. Conventional corporate GIS services, plantation inventory, forestry information systems, advanced statistical and mathematical modelling as well as land classification and evaluation services are also part of the agreement.

Following an approach of using multidisciplined project teams, Rademeyer is convinced that AfriGIS will make a significant contribution by developing client-focussed GIS decision support tools that will assist in the effective and efficient management of South Africa's forestry areas.

"By entrenching ourselves firmly in the forestry industry through the provision of such services and cross-pollination with other industries, AfriGIS Environmental aims to become a major contributor of GIS solutions and support to various land-owners," Rademeyer concludes.

AfriGIS

(012) 362 3114

Lydette@afrigis.co.za

www.afrigis.co.za