ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The completion of this dissertation would have been impossible if it were not
for the supervision and patience of Associate Professor Martin V. Fey.
Additional acknowledgement should be given to Associate Professor James P.
Willis for his constructive criticism. I am in debt to Dr Marian Tredoux for
providing a peaceful working environment. I would also like to thank Mr Dawie
du Toit and Mr Izak Holtzhausen for their kind hospitality, which is much
appreciated. Proficient counsel was kindly given by Mr Ferdinand Leygonie.
Keeping a good morale and the "lava flow" was easily accomplished thanks to
my fellow class mates.
To the following people I express my gratitude for assisting in the initiation of
the project and for their assistance: Mr & Mrs John McNamara of Mondi-
forests offices in Sabie; Mrs Kim Olbrich and Ms Mieke van Tienhoven of the
C.S.I.R. offices in Nelspruit; Mrs Colleen Carlson from the I.C.F.R. offices in
Sabie; Mr Dan Saban and Mr Tom E. Nowicki. The project was partially
sponsored by Eskom and Mondi-Forests .
Family and friends back home have provided moral and practical support that
played an integral role throughout the year: this is very much appreciated.
Finally, I would like to dedicate this thesis to a very close and dear friend,
Peter Allen-Frost, who, through a close and warm friendship, has greatly
contributed both morally and practically, to many of my achievements thus far.
It is most unfortunately that he has not lived to experience the "harvesting" of
his support.
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" When we are very young and know little,
mountains are mountains,
water is water,
and trees are trees.
When we scholar and become capable,
mountains are no longer mountains,
water is not water,
and trees are no longer trees.
When we have reached a fundamental understanding,
mountains are mountains again,
water is back to being water,
and trees are trees again."
(Zen, China)
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