Biodiversity conservation NCT supports three conservtaion projects related to commercial forestry and surrounding communities. • The Ground-hornbill project to raise hatchlings and create awareness of the species in communites. • The Oribi Working Group for its community outreach programme focussing on anti-poaching and oribi surveys. • The national grassland programme, a regional initiative to conserve biodiversity within the grassland biome. Impact on communities NCT has undertaken social investment initiatives aimed at bringing new hope and opportunity to previously disadvantaged communities especially those in and around its plantations. Its selection of projects reflect the organisation’s understanding of current good practice and hopefully make a difference to the most vulnerable in our communities. NCT invests 1% of its pre-tax profit in community programmes. To date, NCT’s social investment programme has impacted on over 100 communities in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. All projects are assessed prior to approval, on a case-by-case basis and are required to have documented objectives. Projects focus on: • Literacy and education focussing on early childhood development • Welfare of the most vulnerable i.e orphans and HIV infected children. • Special needs equipment for the physically- and mentally-challenged. • Food security with the establishment of community gardens. • Small business development. • Basic infrastructure and equipment at clinics, schools and home-run crèches. 8 Linking our members to markets
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