The National Forestry Programme

[TABLE OF CONTENTS | BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION | NATURAL FORESTS AND WOODLANDS | COMMUNITY FORESTRY | URBAN FORESTRY | INDUSTRIAL FORESTRY | INFORMATION AND DATA MANAGEMENT | RESEARCH | HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION | INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND STAFF REQUIREMENTS | IMMEDIATE ACTION PROGRAMME | MONITORING AND EVALUATING THE NATIONAL FORESTRY PROGRAMME]

10 IMMEDIATE ACTION PROGRAMME

10.1 Selection of the Immediate Action Programme

The National Forestry Programme as outlined in the previous chapters is a comprehensive action programme showing a wide variety of priorities, timing, lead actors and available capability. Although the entire programme should be implemented, some actions are considered more urgent and ready for execution than others. Hence there is a need to make a selection for immediate action from the prime elements of the National Forestry Programme.

The concise priority programme for immediate action as presented in this chapter is based on the following criteria used for selection.

• Very high priority attached
• Relatively low capacity building requirements
• Start of action required immediately (2003)
• Duration of action in most cases short-term (up to 5 years)
• The proposed Department of Forestry is the leading actor or co-leader.

One of the most important considerations is that the proposed Department of Forestry has sufficient capacity and capability to start the selected high priority action programme with immediate effect and execute the various programme elements simultaneously.

In a number of actions the co-operation of other leading or participatory actors is required. The participatory capability of other parties has been assessed as most likely available, although there is always an element of risk involved in joint implementation. The same applies to the capacity requirements, such as funding, expertise and human resource development. Although there may be a need to strengthen some capability aspects of the proposed Department of Forestry, it is thought that the current capability is sufficient to start the selected actions and complete the most essential parts of each of them.

Six Immediate Action Programmes have been distinguished, but no further priorities have been given between them. Each of the Immediate Action Programmes combines actions or elements from the Actions as defined in the previous chapters. An Immediate Action Programme may belong to one and the same forestry category, but could also crossover to another category with corresponding activities. The six programmes cover forestry categories and main objectives as follows:

Programme 1: Natural Forests and Woodlands & Community Forestry (management)

Programme 2: Community Forestry & Industrial Forestry (commercial production)

Programme 3: Natural Forests and Woodlands (improving rural livelihoods)

Programme 4: Community Forestry & Natural Forests (research & practical applications)

Programme 5: Urban Forestry (promotion & development)

Programme 6: Natural Forests and Woodlands (biodiversity conservation)

10.2 The Immediate Action Programmes

10.2.1 Programme 1: Sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands

The sustainable management of the natural forests and woodlands of Swaziland is considered the most urgent and important objective of the National Forestry Programme, for reasons that most other forestry activities depend on the establishment of sustainable management. It is only through empowerment of the communities that sustainable management can be achieved. Local communities should have the responsibilities for the use and management of their communal resources on Swazi Nation Land. In the same way, companies and private persons are responsible for sustainable management of the forest resources on their private or Title Deed Land. Immediate Action Programme 1 combines two of the most important actions, one from Natural Forests and Woodland and the other from Community Forestry.

The main activities of the programme are:

• Increase the community awareness and understanding of the value of natural forests and woodlands, in particular community forests.
• Establish Natural Resources Management Committees (NRMCs) in each of the chiefdoms for the sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands and other communal natural resources.

• Complete criteria and indicators for sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands and for community forestry.
• Convert criteria and indicators into simple standards and guidelines for sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands and community forests.
• Define a strategy for sustainable management of natural and communal forests and woodlands based on the defined criteria and indicators.

• Provide communities, and in particular NRMC members, with the necessary knowledge for sustainable forest management through education and training.
• Assist communities and other stakeholders to formulate forest management plans based on transparent procedures.
• Assist communities and other stakeholders to implement sustainable forest management.

Several of these activities may run concurrently. For instance, awareness raising and the negotiations and arrangement for the establishment of NRMCs can take place at the same time, during which period also the criteria and indicators can be completed. The proposed Department of Forestry is the main actor in all activities, except for the establishment of the NRMCs where the Tinkhundla offices will be the co-ordinating agent and a number of other departments will be involved as well. Some assistance in expertise is needed for the completion of the criteria and indicators. The activities that directly deal with raising the community awareness and the training in management skills would require additional human resources from the proposed Department of Forestry, non-governmental organisations and the National Environment Education Programme.

10.2.2 Programme 2: Development of woodlots, wattle forest and outgrower schemes

This Immediate Action Programme focuses on the commercial and communal management of forest resources other than natural forests and woodlands. Woodlots and outgrower schemes are relatively new developments, both with communal and commercial aspects. The same holds true for the wattle forests in the Highveld and Upper Middleveld of Swaziland, which are characterised by poor management and weak commercial performance. Poorly defined user rights and lack of clarity of ownership are major constraints with respect to achievement of sustainable management of these forest categories. Settlement of existing disputes and agreement on outstanding issues are prerequisites for improved management of woodlots and wattle forests. The main forest category represented in this Immediate Action Programme is Community Forestry but also important elements from Industrial Forestry are included.

The main activities of the programme are:

• Increase community awareness of the importance of woodlots, wattle and outgrower schemes as a major source of wood products, however, also as a possible threat to biodiversity.
• Carry out mapping and registration of wattle forests and woodlots, and define the boundaries of the current extensions of wattle.
• Improve the organisation of commercial wattle growers.

• Complete criteria and indicators applicable to woodlots and wattle forests.
• Convert criteria and indicators into simple standards and guidelines for sustainable management of woodlots and wattle forests.
• Introduce sustainable practices in the commercial wattle forest sector.
• Improve sustainable management and monitoring of woodlots and communal wattle forests through support to the Natural Resources Management Committees (NRMCs).

• Enhance the sustainable production and distribution of wattle and woodlot products, including fuelwood, charcoal, timber and poles.

• Provide training to local communities through the Natural Resources Management Committees (NRMCs) in the planning, implementation and monitoring of woodlots.
• Assist communities and individuals through the NRMCs to formulate wattle management plans and improve the site selection and planning for wattle forest.
• Improve the planning of woodlots and outgrower schemes through focusing on utilisation and rehabilitation of marginal and degraded land.
• Incorporate environmental and biodiversity aspects in the planning for woodlots, wattle forests and outgrower schemes and apply Environmental Impact Assessments.

• Arrange negotiations between all stakeholders to resolve issues related to ownership, land and tree tenure, user rights, equitable access and sharing of benefits from woodlots, wattle and outgrower schemes on communal land.
• Define the role and rights of the traditional authorities with respect to management and use of woodlots and wattle forests.
• Integrate the rights agreements in the management practices of the Natural Resources Management Committees and establish permanent consultation mechanisms between Government and traditional administrative structures to ensure security of tenure of trees and land and to resolve conflict situations.

The human resources of the proposed Department of Forestry need to be further developed in order to be able to cope with the tasks to support the management and implementation activities of the local communities and committees. There is also a major role for non-governmental organisations in these activities. The Tinkhundla offices will provide inputs during the negotiations of ownership and user rights. The commercial forest companies and other government institutions such as the Land Use Planning Section and the Swaziland Environmental Authority will be involved in the planning and site selection for expansion of commercially oriented wattle growers and timber outgrowers.

10.2.3 Programme 3: Commercial exploitation of natural forests and woodlands

Current exploitation of the natural forests and woodland is taking place in an unsustainable way without any value added to products and with few benefits to the rural population. Viable options exist to enhance sustainable commercial extraction of forest products, and to develop tourism, eco-tourism and conservation. The strategy to develop sustainable commercial exploitation of natural forests and woodlands is to achieve the objective in partnerships with all stakeholders aiming to benefit in particular the rural communities.

The main activities of the programme are:

• Investigate the major options for sustainable commercial exploitation, notably extraction and trade in forest products, processing of forest products and tourism.
• Define a strategy for sustainable commercial management of communal natural forests, with regulations pertaining to extraction of forest products.
• Promote and co-ordinate sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands for enhanced tourism and eco-tourism development through involvement of all stakeholders, including the public and private sector, communities and traditional authorities.
• Define a strategy for community involvement in the management of conserved land and investigate options for income generation in community-managed conservation areas.
• Promote the development of small sustainable industries specialising in the processing of natural forest and woodland products.

• Empower communities to retain control over the trade in forest products from communal forests and woodlands and investigate other parties that benefit from the exploitation.
• Introduce permit systems through the Natural Resources Management Committees to ensure that communities remain the principal recipients of revenue and other benefits.
• Control the trade and export of medicinal plants through introducing a license system through the Natural Resources Management Committees to ensure extraction and use by authorised persons only, aimed at local needs.

• Advise communities with regard to proper valuation, trade, marketing and management of forest products.
• Advise communities with regard to options in the processing of forest products and the development of small industries.
• Advise communities with regard to restrictions in the extraction and trade in medicinal plants and the need for protection of these plants.

• Support communities with the setting-up of small industries for the processing of forest products by providing commercial and financial assistance and guidance.

Important inputs during the implementation of this important Immediate Action Programme are also required from other actors apart from the proposed Department of Forestry. There will be a substantial involvement of the traditional leaders, the communities themselves and the Tinkhundla offices, in particular with respect to defining regulations and license systems. The Ministry of Enterprise and Employment (MEE) plays a continuously important role from the initial investigations till the final assistance in implementation. Of particular importance is the identification of capital projects and provision of capital funds through MEE. Also the tourism and conservation authorities (MTEC, SNTC) play a role in part of the programme. For some of the activities the main actors require additional expertise, funding and human resource development. However, these resources should be secured during implementation of the programme and not delay the initiation of the process.

10.2.4 Programme 4: Research and promotion of agro-forestry

Agro-forestry is currently not that much practised in Swaziland but local conditions offer good opportunities. Agro-forestry in a wide sense also includes other applications of trees and plants such as in woodlots, in conservation and for a wide range of medicinal, handicraft, ceremonial and domestic purposes. All of these uses may generate income and improve livelihoods.

Research in agro-forestry and related fields can contribute considerably to the successful development and implementation of agro-forestry and related activities. Of particular importance is the assessment and selection of suitable tree and plant species for application in multi-purpose programmes.

The main activities of the programme are:

• Evaluate traditional local agro-forestry systems for wider implementation and investigate suitable agro-forestry practices based on national and international research information.
• Assess suitable tree species for the specific conditions for each of the Agro-ecological Zones (AEZ) of Swaziland.
• Identify suitable tree and plant species following community needs and specific applications such as agro-forestry, land rehabilitation, woodlots, fuelwood, woodcraft, medicinal use and other purposes.
• Develop plans to ameliorate fuelwood production through enrichment planting, priority planning of afforestation, selection of suitable species and other appropriate measures to ensure sustainable supply of fuelwood to meet needs of communities.
• Initiate the compilation of an inventory of indigenous species used for woodcraft, ceremonial and domestic purposes as part of a comprehensive species utilisation database of timber and non-timber forest products.

• Introduce appropriate agro-forestry practices through the Natural Resources Management Committees (NRMCs) in farming systems and households.
• Improve the knowledge and sustainable application of suitable tree and plant species through support to the NRMCs.
• Educate and train farmers and other interested people through the NRMCs in relevant agro-forestry applications and sustainable utilisation of tree and plant species for handicraft, medicinal, ceremonial and domestic purposes.
• Set up training programmes with the NRMCs to improve community skills in the selection and management of trees in combination with other plant species in the protection and rehabilitation of land.

• Encourage enrichment planting and replanting of species used for handicraft, medicinal, ceremonial and domestic purposes to alleviate pressure on natural forests and woodlands.
• Promote the growing of medicinal plants in nurseries and gardens.
• Promote the use of alternative exotic plant and tree species for woodcraft and establish an identification, propagation and distribution programme.
• Enhance the conservation of culturally important species in forest and flora reserves, gardens and other protected habitats.
• Upgrade the National Tree Seed Centre with an increased seed collection and enhanced distribution capacity.
• Improve the availability of suitable planting materials through government nurseries.

The two main aspects of this Immediate Action Programme are research and application of research results. Current research capacity is limited, but a minor extra input should be sufficient to successfully carry out the essential parts of the programme, which consists largely of applied research and development of the results. The proposed Department of Forestry is the main actor, and in fact the sole actor for most of the activities. Other participants include NGOs, the proposed Department of Energy and the MoAC. Moderate inputs are required in terms of expertise, funding and human resource development.

10.2.5 Programme 5: Development of urban and peri-urban forestry

There is a need to recognise forests and green belts in urban areas as important factors to the quality of life. The strategy of the National Forestry Programme is to establish sustainable urban and peri-urban forestry planning through introduction of integrated and holistic planning procedures. The implementation of the plans aims at conserving unique habitats as green zones and providing important economic, social and environmental benefits to the urban and peri-urban population.

The main activities of the programme are:

• Increase the general awareness and understanding of the value of urban and peri-urban forests and green zones.
• Promote economic, social and environmental benefits, including forests products such as timber, fuelwood, fruit, other edibles, as well as improved well being, amenity, recreation shade, shelter, conservation of aesthetic values and biodiversity.

• Complete the criteria and indicators for sustainable urban and peri-urban forestry.
• Widen the concept and provide comprehensive definitions of different kinds of open spaces and green areas as mentioned in the Urban Government Policy of 1996.

• Identify and develop green areas such as forests, parks, sports and recreational areas, greenways and other open areas as integral part of urban and peri-urban areas.
• Formulate integrated planning and implementation procedures for urban and peri-urban forestry development.

Urban forestry is a new category of forestry, which the country still needs to develop. The proposed Department of Forestry requires additional resources for capacity building, in particular with respect to expertise and human resources. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Urban Local Authorities are the other major role players, which also need to build capacity to deal with new urban forestry developments. Peri-urban authorities need to be empowered in order to enable smooth transitions from peri-urban to urban conditions, inclusive of the protection of forests and other green zones.

10.2.6 Programme 6: Sustainable use of biodiversity resources and alien species control

This programme represents part of the National Forestry Programme dealing with the conservation of the biodiversity of natural forest resources (Actions 2.1.1 to 2.1.7). The Actions selected relate to threats to biodiversity and the need to increase in size and coverage of protected areas in Swaziland for satisfactory conservation and maintenance of biodiversity.

The primary reason to include Action 2.1.7 in the Immediate Action Programme is the overall importance of the conservation of biodiversity and the role of forestry in this process, notably in the management of forest and flora protection areas. The secondary reason is that the national programme to identify and define Protection-worthy Areas (PWAs) in Swaziland has already been initiated and that the active participation of the Department of Forestry in this process is an essential precondition for successful implementation of this programme. The programme has linkages with the development of tourism and eco-tourism of Immediate Action Programme 3.

Action 2.1.5, namely the development and implementation of integrated programmes to control invasive alien plant species has been selected because of its very urgent character and the already existing political attention and support.

The main activities of the programme are:

Identification and evaluation of forest and flora protection areas

• Define objectives of forest and flora reserves as part of overall protected areas, taking into account the agreed methodology of identification and classification.
• Identify and evaluate forest and woodland protection-worthy areas (PWAs), in particular wetlands within forests and mountain and hill forests and woodlands, through rapid field assessment.
• Liaise with the national PWA programme for the progressive evaluation of PWAs and amendment of conservation categories, in order to select priority forest and flora protection areas for detailed surveys.
• Conduct detailed socio-economic and biodiversity surveys of special forest and flora habitats, notably wetlands within forests and hill and mountain forests and woodlands and make inventories of their occurrence and distribution.

• Make final selections and develop an action plan for proclamation of forest and flora protection areas.
• Proclaim forest and flora protection areas.
• Develop management plans for the proclaimed reserves.
• Implement management plans for the proclaimed reserves.

• Conduct surveys and make inventories of the occurrence and distribution of invasive alien plant species.
• Develop priority programmes for the control and eradication of invasive alien plant species.
• Implement priority programmes to control invasive alien plant species.

The above activities cover a medium-term programme duration, however to start immediately. The proposed Department of Forestry is the lead actor in the evaluation, proclamation and management of forest and flora protection areas, but the overall programme of identification and proclamation of Protection-worthy Areas (PWAs) falls under the responsibility of the Swaziland National Trust Commission (SNTC). The Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA) is also a major role player in this process. Additional funding, expertise and human resource development are required to complete a number of the activities, notably the evaluation, survey and management activities.

The development and implementation of programmes to control invasive alien plant species will require the involvement of several institutions and departments, with overall SEA responsibility and co-ordination. Substantial funding, expertise and human resource development are required to complete the three major activities of this programme. However, the Government is committed to this particular task and may seek assistance from international donors.

Home | National Projects | Environmental Legislation | Policies and Action Plans | Documents

This page was last updated on 27 October 2004