The National Forestry Programme

This is the draft National Forestry Programme and as such is a working document and not a formal programme document. It should not be interpreted as an approved programme of the Government of Swaziland or the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives until it has been finally agreed and adopted.

3 COMMUNITY FORESTRY

Well-developed community forestry may significantly contribute to improving the quality of rural life, through communal, group and individual participation in planning, implementation and management of social and economic forestry in the local environment. Community forestry relates to applications such as farm or homestead forestry, agro-forestry, woodlots, and planting and use of trees in conservation, rehabilitation or other rural schemes. Community forestry is also involved with the use and management of natural forests and woodlands (Chapter 2) and wattle forests. It has links with commercial forestry through outgrower schemes on communal land (Chapter 5) and with urban forestry as applied to households, schools and residential areas, in particular on peri-urban land (Chapter 4).

Community forestry in Swaziland is characterised by a complex setting in terms of land tenure, ownership and user rights, management responsibility and conflict of traditional and modern values. Such issues should be resolved in order to develop community forestry as a self-sustaining activity without reliance on external inputs. In particular ownership and user rights are issues that play an important role in development of sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands, wattle forests and woodlots. In order to develop all aspects of sustainable community forestry, there is an immediate requirement to provide specific services to communities, such as assistance in planning and selection of suitable tree species, provision of seedlings, and training in forest management.

The Community Forestry Action Programme is split into three strategies, each of them representing a group of actions:

Community-based forest management

Community rights and ownership of forest resources

Community applications of forestry and agro-forestry.

3.1 Community-based forest management

The current lack of sustainable management of the natural forests and woodlands, but also of wattle forests and woodlots, is to a large extent caused by lack of community involvement. National criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management have been defined, but specific criteria and indicators for sustainable community forestry management have to be completed and implemented by all stakeholders. Introducing community-based management is a key element in the process, whereby communities have to be made aware of alternative uses of forest resources. Communities need to organise themselves in Natural Resources Management Committees, which should work in close co-operation with the existing community traditional structures.

3.1.1 Summary of key issues

Community responsibility and technical knowledge of sustainable forest management is insufficient to properly manage communal indigenous forests and woodlands.
Wattle on communal land is not used to its full potential as a major source of fuelwood, charcoal, poles and other products.
Wattle has invaded ecosystems with a negative impact on the water balance and the biodiversity resources.
Communities do generally not have the technical knowledge to manage woodlots.
Current forestry support and extension services are insufficient to enhance community capabilities in the management of communal forests and woodlands.

3.1.2 Strategy to establish community-based forest management

To develop and increase local management of indigenous and exotic forest resources through supporting the organisation of communal management structures and providing services to the implementation of effective and sustainable natural resource management and monitoring.

3.1.3 Priority action programme

Action	Priority	Start	Period	Responsibility	Capacity building requirements
Action 3.1.1 Empower communities with full responsibility for the sustainable management of their forest resources and to provide the required technical knowledge (Policy reference 2.2.5.1)	Very high	Short-term		Government Communities NGOs	x
Activities
- Increase the community awareness and understanding of the value of the community forests and woodlots		2003	2y	DoF/MoAC/NEPNGOs	Human resources
- Establish Natural Resources Management Committees in each chiefdom for the sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands and other communal natural resources		2003	4y	Tinkhundla/DoFMTEC/MNER MoAC/Comm
- Provide communities with the necessary knowledge for sustainable forest management through education and training		2003	3y	DoF/NGOs/NEP	Human resources
- Complete criteria and indicators for sustainable management of community forests and woodlots		2003	1y	DoF	Expertise
- Convert criteria and indicators into simple standards and guidelines for sustainable community forest and woodlot management		2004	1y	DoF/Comm
- Assist communities to formulate forest management plans based on transparent procedures		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs	Human resources
Action 3.1.2 Enhance sustainable management of wattle forest on communal land, control the spread of wattle and improve production (Policy references 2.2.2.3 & 2.2.2.2)	Very high	Short- to medium-term		Government Communities NGOs	x
Activities
- Increase community awareness of wattle as a major source of wood products but also as a major threat to biodiversity		2003	2y	DoF/NGOs/NEP	Human resources
- Improve management of wattle forests through support to the Natural Resources Management Committees		2003	2y	DoF/NGOs Communities	Human resources
- Assist communities to formulate wattle management plans		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs
- Enhance the sustainable production and distribution of wattle products, including fuelwood, charcoal, timber and poles		2004	4y	DoF/NGOs Communities
- Remove wattle from locations and ecosystems where they form a threat to biodiversity (see also Action 2.1.5)		2004	5y	DoF/NGOs Communities
Action 3.1.3 Develop community skills for the managing and monitoring of woodlots (Policy reference 2.2.1.1)	Very high	Short-term		Government Communities NGOs	x
Activities
- Provide local communities with training in the planning and implementation of woodlots (see also Action 3.3.4)		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs
- Improve sustainable management and monitoring of woodlots through support to the Natural Resources Management Committees		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs Communities	Expertise Human resources
- Assist communities to formulate woodlot management and monitoring plans		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs	Human resources
Action 3.1.4 Focus forest support services on community forestry as a key development area (Policy reference 2.2.6.1)	Very High	Long-term		Government NGOs
Activities
- Enhance forestry extension service capacity for adequate provision of services to communities		2003	2y	DoF	Human resources
- Promote community forestry development, through provision of information and awareness raising		2003	2y	DoF/NGOs/NEP
- Provide education through media and group training		2004	3y	DoF
- Enhance community forestry extension services through transfer of knowledge, information and technology		2004	20y	DoF/NGOs	Human resources
- Facilitate financing by providing information on incentives, subsidies and credits available		2004	20y	DoF/Tinkhundla	Human resources
- Improve supply and distribution of community forestry inputs, in particular planting materials (see also Action 3.3.2)		2004	20y	DoF/NGOs	Human resources

3.2 Community rights and ownership of forest resources

There is lack of clarity of ownership, tenure of trees and rights to use communal natural forests, wattle forest and woodlots, including arrangements concerning the distribution of benefits. The Natural Resources Management Committees should be empowered by the traditional authorities to negotiate forest management matters with all stakeholders, in order to establish rights and responsibilities, and formulate rules with respect to the use and management of communal forest resources. Regulations emanating from these negotiations should include detailed arrangements with regard to maintenance of the forest resources and the extraction of forest products.

3.2.1 Summary of key issues

There is a lack of agreement and definition with respect to ownership and user rights of communal indigenous forests and woodlands.
There is lack of clarity of user rights of uncontrolled wattle trees on communal land.
There is lack of clarity of ownership and user rights of community owned woodlots, resulting in disagreements over benefits and revenue sharing.

3.2.2 Strategy to clarify and define community rights and ownership of forest resources

To remove obstacles related to the lack of clarity and agreement with respect to communal and individual tenure rights of land and trees and to develop clear mechanisms of ownership in order to enable communities establishing sustainable use and management of their forest resources.

3.2.3 Priority action programme

Action	Priority	Start	Period	Responsibility
Action 3.2.1 Agree and define detailed rules and regulations covering the access, responsibilities and user rights to communal natural forests and woodlands (Policy reference 2.2.5.2)	Very high	Short-term		Government Communities
Activities
- Arrange negotiations between traditional authorities, communities and Government to clarify for all stakeholders their responsibilities, rights of access and rights of use of communal natural forests and woodlands		2003	1y	DoF/Tinkhundla Communities
- Formulate rules and regulations for all stakeholders – groups and individuals - with respect to management responsibilities and extraction of forest products		2003	1y	DoF/Tinkhundla
- Integrate the agreed rules and regulations in the management plans and practices of the Natural Resources Management Committees		2004	3y	DoF/Comm
Action 3.2.2 To define user rights and ownership of woodlots and wattle trees on communally used Swazi Nation Land on the basis of equitable access and shared benefits (Policy references 2.2.1.3 & 2.2.2.4)	Very high	Short-term		Government Communities
Activities
- 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 and wattle on communal land		2003	1y	DoF/Tinkhundla Communities
- Define the role and rights of the traditional authorities with respect to management and use of woodlots and wattle forests		2003	1y	DoF/Tinkhundla
- Integrate the agreements in the mechanisms of ownership and management practices of the Natural Resources Management Committees		2004	3y	DoF/Comm

3.3 Communal applications of forestry and agro-forestry

Communal applications and use of trees and forestry may contribute to sustaining rural livelihoods through income generating activities. The main areas of interest are agro-forestry, participation in woodlots, application of trees in conservation and sustainable use of a variety of indigenous and exotic trees. Agro-forestry is not much practised as part of existing farming systems, notwithstanding the fact that climatic conditions in most of Swaziland are conducive to the growing of trees, both indigenous and exotic.

Agro-forestry refers to mixed land uses where the use of trees, crops and livestock are integrated. The use of trees in the mixed systems of agro-forestry provides better micro-climatic conditions for crop growth and supplements the soil with additional nutrients from leaves, roots and branches. Trees with palatable foliage may provide an additional source of fodder. Modern agro-forestry technology includes practices such as the planting of multipurpose trees in specific locations, mixed and hedgerow inter-cropping, live fences, which all aim at alleviating identified constraints such as soil degradation, soil fertility, fodder shortage and shortage of fuelwood and timber.

3.3.1 Summary of key issues

Although there is a wide scope for application of agro-forestry in Swaziland, it is not much practised.
Community knowledge of the application of suitable tree and shrub species in special circumstances and for specific purposes is insufficient.
Communities do not effectively use trees in combination with other plant species in the protection and rehabilitation of land.
Planning for woodlots is currently not part of integrated rural development planning and communities are not sufficiently involved.

3.3.2 Strategy to enhance community applications of forestry and agro-forestry

To provide efficient support to the community-based development of agro-forestry, woodlots and other applications of forestry to improve rural livelihoods and local conditions.

3.3.3 Priority action programme

Action	Priority	Start	Period	Responsibility	Capacity building requirements
Action 3.3.1 Promote and introduce appropriate agro-forestry practices for Swazi farming systems and individuals (Policy reference 2.2.3.1)	Very high	Short- to medium-term		Government Communities NGOs	x
Activities
- Assess and evaluate traditional agro-forestry systems practised in the country for wider implementation		2003	1y	DoF/MoAC	Expertise
- Investigate and further develop suitable agro-forestry practices based on national and international research information		2003	2y	DoF/MoAC	Expertise
- Educate and train farmers and other interested people in relevant agro-forestry applications		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs Communities	Human resources
- Introduce appropriate agro-forestry practices in farming systems and households		2005	5y	DoF/NGOs Communities
Action 3.3.2 Improve selection and distribution of tree and plant species in agro-forestry and other forestry applications (Policy reference 2.2.3.2)	Very high	Short-term		Government Communities NGOs
Activities
- Assess suitable tree species for the specific conditions for each of the Agro-ecological Zones (AEZ) of Swaziland		2003	2y	DoF	Expertise
- Identify suitable tree and plant species following community needs and specific purposes such as agro-forestry, land rehabilitation, woodlots, etc. (see also Actions 3.3.3 & 3.3.4)		2004	2y	DoF
- Improve the knowledge and application of suitable tree and plant species through support to the Natural Resources Management Committees		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs Communities	Human resources
- Upgrade the National Tree Seed Centre with an increased seed collection and enhanced distribution capacity		2003	2y	DoF	Expertise Funding
- Upgrade the National Tree Seed Centre with an increased seed collection and enhanced distribution capacity		2004	3y	DoF
- Improve the availability of suitable planting materials through government nurseries (see also Action 3.1.6)		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs Communities	Human resources
Action 3.3.3 Improve the application of trees and other plant species in the conservation and rehabilitation of land (Policy reference 2.2.4.1)	Very high	Short-term		Government Communities NGOs
Activities
- Set up training programmes to improve community skills in the selection and management of trees in combination with other plant species in the protection and rehabilitation of land		2003	2y	DoF/MoAC NGOs
- Train communities and individuals in applications such as enrichment planting and practical land rehabilitation works		2004	3y	DoF/MoAC NGOs
- Improve the general and sustainable application of trees and other plants in soil conservation and land rehabilitation through support to the Natural Resources Management Committees		2004	3y	DoF/MoAC NGOs/Commm
Action 3.3.4 Improve the planning procedures of community woodlots and improve community participation and skills (Policy reference 2.2.1.1)	High	Medium-term		Government Communities NGOs
Activities
- Incorporate planning for woodlots as an important element in participatory land use planning and holistic rural development		2003	1y	DoF/LUPS
- Assess community needs for timber and non-timber products and estimate required production from woodlots		2004	3y	DoF
- Develop planning and design procedures for woodlots and improve local community skills		2004	3y	DoF/NGOs Communities
- Improve participatory woodlot planning through support to the Natural Resources Management Committees		2005	5y	DoF/NGOs Communities

This page was last updated on 27 October 2004