Forestry forms and documents

This report, the State of the Forests Report (2018) is the fifth edition prepared to meet the requirements of section 6(3) of the National Forests Act of 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998). It is a mandatory triennial report seeking to present facts and trends on forests in the country and it covers the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 but overlaps slightly into 2019, particularly on matters pertaining to Regional and International Cooperation. The report further provides challenges (existing and emerging) which pose a serious risk to the existence, stability and sustainability of forest resources. These include (a) the perceived reluctance from forestry companies to embrace and implement transformation in the sector; (b) the slow pace of land restitution and redistribution; (c) wildfires and pests and diseases;(d) the regulatory environment for commercial forestry which is perceived as hostile by the industry; (e) recommissioning and refurbishment of State plantations; and (f) high levels of timber theft and criminal activities in the
forests.

Urban greening is an integrated approach to the planting, care and management of all vegetation in cities, towns, townships and informal settlements in urban and peri-urban areas. Urban greening in South Africa includes townships and informal settlements specifically because in the past these areas were disadvantaged in terms of planning for parks as well as tree planting in streets and open spaces.

The role of the Department in terms of woodlands have long been discussed and questioned. The National Forest Act and the White Paper on Sustainable Forest Development clearly indicate that woodlands are included in the national forestry policy. This document takes one step further in outlining what practically should be done to implement the policy in terms of woodlands. It provides broad outlines of programmes and functions that would be required and point out where woodlands should be incorporated into existing functions and programmes of the Department as well as where new functions should be established.

This document has two broad goals: firstly, to present the principles, approach and results of a systematic conservation plan for the forest biome, and secondly, to provide the computer based information systems developed for indigenous forest conservation planning. This work has been commissioned by the UK Department for International Development on behalf of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The target audience include forest scientists, managers, conservationists, regulators, and administrators involved with indigenous forests in South Africa. The aim of conservation planning is the selection of priority planning units for conservation action. In the narrow sense, this implies inclusion of those areas, identified by systematic planning as being highly irreplaceable, and essential for inclusion within a protected area network for achieving targets. In the broader sense, conservation action may include a range of different activities, both inside and out side of protected areas.

Natural forests must not be destroyed save in exceptional circumstances, where in the opinion of the Minister, a proposed new land use is preferable in terms of its economic, social or environmental benefits [NFA 3(3)(a)]. The participation of all interested and affected parties in environmental governance must be promoted and all people must have the opportunity to develop the understanding, skills and capacity necessary for achieving equitable and effective participation by vulnerable and disadvantaged persons must be ensured [NEMA 2(f)].

Natural forests must not be destroyed save in exceptional circumstances, where in the opinion of the Minister, a proposed new land use is referable in terms of its economic, social or environmental benefits [NFA 3(3)(a)]. Forests must be developed and managed so as to promote the fair distribution of their economic, social, health and environmental benefits [NFA3 (3) c (iii)]. Forests must be developed and managed so as to advance persons or categories of persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination [NFA 3 (3) c (vii)].

This strategy framework provides a summary of the literature review and policy review, followed by a summary of the key issues paper, highlighting key challenges for agroforestry development. The strategy framework provides a vision for agroforestry proposes a working definition of agroforestry for South Africa and defines key principles that should inform thinking when implementing the strategy. The strategy itself, which is made up of three themes: Creating the Enabling Environment, Knowledge Development and Putting Agroforestry into Practice. For each strategic theme there are a number of goals and for each goal, a set of objectives that are necessary for each goal to be achieved. Associated with the strategy is the implementation plan which provides detail on key actions and outputs from the strategy. Included in the implementation plan are indicators against which progress with implementing the strategy can be monitored.

The Forest Sector makes a major contribution to the South African economy. The commercial plantation resource of some 1.33 million hectares forms the basis for a well-developed, highly integrated and diversified forest products industry in South Africa. The fibre sub-sector is dominated by a small number of large, corporate enterprises that are involved in the capital-intensive pulp, paper and composite board industries. These industries are characterised by their backward linkages into plantation forestry, motivated by the need to secure reliable roundwood supply. These, together with a small number involved in saw milling, own 58.8% of the plantation forest resource. A larger number of medium and emerging enterprises is located in the sub-sectors of growers, forestry contractors, sawmilling, pole treatment, charcoal manufacturing and paper processing.

The purpose of this paper is to present a draft FED strategy framework that sets out broad guidelines for FED support and identifies priority strategy themes to be developed further as a separate strategy initiatives. FED requires the active support of a number of role-players, ranging from land holding communities and small-scale entrepreneurs to private sector companies and different government agencies. Therefore the draft strategy presented in this paper is not intended to be a departmental strategy, but as a sector strategy in which the department plays a leading role. Obviously, such a strategy would need to be developed in consultation with the various role-players. This draft strategy framework, together with the companion Key Issues Paper on Forest Enterprise Development is presented as a first step by the department in developing an FED strategy.

This Handbook contains a short description of how the ECBCP biodiversity priorities were identified, an explanation of the land use guidelines in the ECBCP, and userfriendly guidelines for using the electronic decision support system of the ECBCP. More information is available from the ECBCP Technical Report (Berliner, D. & Desmet, P. 2007). The ECBCP addresses the urgent need to identify and map critical biodiversity areas and priorities for conservation in the Province. It also provides land use planning guidelines, recommending biodiversity-friendly activities in priority areas. The ECBCP is intended for use by technical users and decision-makers in the spheres of planning, development and environment. Mapped information can be used both reactively and strategically to guide future development away from sensitive and priority biodiversity areas.

This report deals with assigning special status to extraordinary single trees and groups of trees in South Africa, here referred to as ‘Champion’ trees. The report proposes an objective methodology for determining champion status. Biological attributes, age of tree and heritage significance are the key parameters for evaluating champion status. Legal provisions elsewhere are also a key consideration in the methodology. The report also spells out a process by which stakeholders can suggest certain trees that should be on the champion tree list (application process), as well as evaluation procedures for the technical review of the champion tree list.

The purpose of this report is: to provide the public with information with which to assess progress in achieving SFM; to provide policy makers with a report as required under the NFA, Part 2, section 6(3); to report on forestry progress in translating the Manifesto, a solemn declaration by the government of its intentions and medium term strategic framework (MTSF), a framework to guide government’s programme in the electoral
mandate period into outcomes and; to recommend to policy makers certain proposals to create an enabling environment to help the Forestry branch to meet relevant outcomes as enshrined in government’s policy of a developmental state.