Zimbabwe Eastern Highlands’s favorable growing conditions and the company's internationally acclaimed forest practices have resulted in some of the highest quality, sustainablly managed plantation forests in the world. All plantations are sustainablly managed over a 22 and 20 year rotation pine and eucalyptus respectively. The silvicultural and pruning regimes have been adopted such as to achieve a high percentage of clear timber.
Border Timbers owns and manages five plantations namely Charter, Sawerombi, Sheba, Imbeza and Tilbury. Of the 48000 hectares of land, approximately 28000 hectares is under plantation and the remaining 20000 hectares are reserved for open area management (conservation, river & streams, heritage sites, roads and access routes). Road establishment and maintenance are carried out within strict parameters to minimize the impact on the environment, ensure adequate levels of drainage and maximize the aesthetics of the planted area.
Of the 28000 hectares of plantable area, 82% is management for softwood production (namely Pinus patula, Pinus elliotii, Pinus taeda, and Pinus kesiya). New and improved pinus species have been introduced and these include P. gregaii, P. oocarpa, P. tecunomanii, P. maximinoi. The balance of 17% is primarily Eucalyptus grandis and E. cloeziana on both a sawlog and pole rotation.
