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NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR PROMOTING SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
To give effect to its Constitutional mandate of protecting the environmental and promoting sustainable development, the department has over a period of time developed comprehensive environmental management legislative/regulatory framework. This regulatory framework, apart from acts of Parliament (environmental laws) and regulations; consists also of policies, norms and standards and other tools.
FOREST SECTOR MASTER PLAN 2020-2025
The Forestry Sector Master Plan has been developed using available research and extensive consultations with industry, specialist entities, and the relevant government departments and agencies. The primary objective of the master plan process is to develop an agreed-upon set of actions, with time frames, that all stakeholders in a sector or value-chain commit to implementing for the benefit of the sector or value-chain. The objectives of the master plan include encouraging sector growth, investment, job creation and competitiveness.
MASTER PLAN:
COMMERCIAL FORESTRY SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA 2020 - 2025
SEPTEMBER 2020 [PDF - 1,447 kb]
The Forestry Master Plan is a high-level action plan, that is in support of the Reimagined Industrial Strategy (RIS) for South Africa (SA), approved by the government in June 2019. Forestry is also one of the sectors that is being prioritised under the Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI) – a partnership between the national government and the private sector to stimulate investment. The master plan focuses on the following sub-sectors of the forestry value chain: 1) primary sector 2) pulp and paper 3) sawn timber 4) board products 5) utility poles and treated products. The DTIC put in place the master plan process and the DFFE is the lead department with oversight over both the master plan and its implementation.
WOODLANDS AND INDIGENOUS FOREST MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR SA's FOREST BIOME:
APPROACH, METHODS AND RESULTS OF THE SELECTION OF PRIORITY FORESTS FOR CONSERVATION ACTION
OCTOBER 2005 [PDF - 2.92 mb]
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. This document describes the methodologies and results of systematic conservation planning for the forest biome. It addresses the urgent need for assessment and strategic planning of indigenous forests conservation in South Africa. Among its key recommendations are lists of priority forests patches and forest clusters requiring urgent conservation action. One of the main aims of conservation planning is the identification of priority planning units for conservation action. Planning units that are evaluated as ‘irreplaceable’ are considered as essential for inclusion within a protected area network. Irreplaceability is a relative measure of the conservation value of a planning unit, based on its contribution toward meeting predefined targets. Targets are based on the requirements for achievement of biodiversity representivity and persistence. Irreplaceability was calculated using the systematic computer optimisation algorithms, C-Plan (for forest patches) and Marxan (for forest clusters and grids).
A WOODLAND STRATEGY FRAMEWORK
JUNE 2005 [PDF - 307 kb]
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.
URBAN GREENING STRATEGY: A GUIDELINE FOR COMMUNITY FORESTRY STAFF AND DISCUSSION DOCUMENT FOR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 2001 [PDF - 106 kb]
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.
JULY 2008 | Forest management (FMU) level principles, criteria, indicators and standards | [PDF - 29.15 kb]
JULY 2008 | National level: Forest management (FMU) level principles, criteria, indicators and standards | [PDF - 32.69 kb]
NOV 2005 | Guidance notes: forestry statistics survey | [PDF - 606 kb]
AUG 2004 | Policy and strategic framework for participatory forest management | [PDF - 125 kb]
SMALL SCALE FORESTRY
AGROFORESTRY STRATEGY FRAMEWORK FOR SOUTH AFRICA
MARCH 2017 [PDF - 720,88 kb]
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.
AGROFORESTRY GUIDELINES FOR SOUTH AFRICA
ENGLISH | Agroforestry guidlines | [PDF – 13.4 mb]
SEPEDI | Tlhahlo ya bašomi ba agroforestry | [PDF – 13.4 mb]
tshiVENDA | Musumbanḓila wa vhashumi vha agroforestry | [PDF – 13.4 mb]
isiXHOSA | I agroforestry | [PDF – 13.4 mb]
MISCELLANEOUS
JULY 2008 | A users guide to the forest sector BBBEE Charter and scorecard | [PDF - 442 kb]
APR 2008 | Forestry enterprise support model | [PDF – 51 kb]
AUG 2008 | BBBEE charter undertakings: streamline and expedite afforestation licensing procedures | [PDF – 23 kb]
AUG 2007 | Eastern Cape biodiversity conservation plan (ECBCP) handbook | [PDF - 2.1 mb]
MAY 2007 | Companion to the draft forest sector transformation charter: first draft for presentation to stakeholders | [PDF - 675.89 kb]
SEP 2005 | Composition, powers and mandate and work programme for sub-sector working groups of the forest sector charter steering committee | [PDF – 38,1 kb]
SEP 2005 | Framework for the forest sector charter document | [PDF – 19 kb]
AUG 2005 | Draft strategy: Framework for forestry enterprise development | [PDF - 148 kb]
A GUIDE TO PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT
SEPTEMBER 2005
- 1: legal options for community partnerships with the department | [PDF – 336 kb]
- 2: formation of PFM forums and committees | [PDF – 414 kb]
- 3: logical framework approach to project planning: preparing and documenting a project | [PDF – 466 kb]
- 4: financial management of projects | [PDF – 425 kb]
- 5: fund raising for projects | [PDF – 576 kb]
- 6: sustainable resource use | [PDF – 653 kb]
- 7: project monitoring and evaluation | [PDF – 404 kb]
- 8: stakeholder participation | [PDF – 540 kb]
- Participatory forest management project template | [PDF – 21,77 kb]
FORESTRY REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT
draft NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STRATEGY
APRIL 2024 [PDF - 10.40 mb]
The draft National Fire Protection Association Support Strategy is aimed at providing equitable support to FPAs and landowners on international boundaries of the Republic of South Africa in terms of sections 3(3) and 7 of the NVFF Act. The vision of this draft strategy is to ensure that all FPAs and landowners on international borders receive equitable support to be resilient towards veldfires and to protect themselves, their assets, the environment, animals, and their livelihoods. The objective of this draft strategy is to outline how and what assistance FPAs and landowners on international borders will receive and define the oversight role the department will play in this regard.
POLICY PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT AFFECTING NATURAL FOREST
SEPTEMBER 2010 [PDF - 1.13 mb]
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.
MISCELLANEOUS
SEP 2015 | The South African criteria, indicators and management goals for sustainable forest management: draft 05 for comment | [PDF - 712 kb]
MAR 2010 | National veldfire risk classification | [PDF - 3.8 mb]
OCT 2005 | National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998) and National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (No.101 of 1998): Compliance and enforcement policy| [PDF – 149,7 kb]
SEP 2005 | Fire protection association (FPA) registration and reporting business processes | [PDF – 24.6 kb]
SEP 2005 | Framework for the forest sector charter document | [PDF – 19 kb]
SEP 2005 | Fast-wood forestry: myths and realities | [PDF – 207 kb]
SEP 2005 | Policy regarding access to state forests for outdoor recreation, education, culture or spiritual purposes | [PDF – 84 kb]
SEP 2005 | Access to state forests for recreation, education, cultural or spiritual fulfilment: general rules and conditions | [PDF – 42,2 kb]
MAR 2005 | Framework for the National Forestry Action Programme | [PDF - 99.0 kb]
JAN 2005 | Guide to the interpretation and implementation of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act No. 101 of 1998. Version 3 | [PDF – 580,8 kb]
SEP 2003 | Policy on the formation of umbrella fire protection associations | [PDF – 27,1 kb]
AUG 2003 | Methods and procedures for the selection of champion trees in South Africa for protection in terms of the National Forests Act (Act no.: 84 of 1998) | [PDF – 295,32 kb]
JUN 2003 | Policy on exemptions from the duty to prepare and maintain firebreaks in terms of section 14 Of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act: Draft 3| [PDF – 37,2 kb]
FEB 2002 | Draft policy on financial support to fire protection associations and to owners who prepare firebreaks on international boundaries | [PDF – 40,2 kb]
Images and related sources: Forestry South Africa | Food and Trees for Africa