The South African Forestry Company is planning to embark on uplifting and empowering communities that operate timber plantation farms.

Safco, a subsidiary of Komatiland, said it would use the expertise from the local institutions of higher learning to allow people to benefit from their own resources.

Company spokesperson Lesley Mudimeli said the plan was meant to do away with donations that did not help empower beneficiaries economically.

He said the areas targeted were Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces where the company had its business operations.

"This is the social compact strategy that we hope will change the quality of life in communities where we operate."

Mudimeli said their forests had opportunities that could enable people to venture into enterprises available in the sector.