The National Forestry ProgrammeThis 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. [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] 7 RESEARCH7.1 Current status of forestry research7.1.1 General situationThe scope and corresponding institutional set-up of a forestry research programme in Swaziland has been an issue of debate for many years. The foundation for a national forestry research programme in Swaziland is weak as there is no technical or professional education in forestry offered in the country (see Chapter 8). As a result, little forestry related research is undertaken in Swaziland, as there is no national forest research institution, nor a university forestry department. The public forestry service has only a very limited research programme, due to lack of resources. Research by the commercial forestry sector is well developed and integrated in the overall production system. Industrial forestry research focuses on growth and yield, genetic improvement, soils and nutrition as well as entomology and pathology. 7.1.2 Research needs identified in the National Forestry Research PlanA National Forestry Research Plan was defined by MOAC in 1992. The plan noted that formally adopted public forestry research objectives in Swaziland did not exist at that stage, and that co-operation in forestry research had not been established with other SADC countries or international institutions because of the lack of research programmes or institutions in Swaziland. The research needs as identified by the National Forestry Research Committee in 1992 fall into five priority programmes:
The report does not provide a justification for the need for research in the five programmes and does also not provide sufficient details of the proposed research activities. The National Forestry Research Plan has estimated a large requirement of staff (42) to implement all the research programmes. Implementation of the full plan is not a realistic option at the present moment. The following comments are made on the five programmes. Community woodlotsThe broad objective is to provide a scientific, technical and socio-economic information base for woodlot development. However, it seems that what is needed is direct assessment and evaluation of available data, in particular from the SADC region, East Africa and Australia. One of the most important aspects is the selection of suitable species on the basis of the local condition in the various Agro-ecological Zones of Swaziland. This is basically a practical matching process of plant growth requirements and local climatic condition. Degradation and soil rehabilitationThis programme should be executed in close co-operation with other stakeholders. The Research Plan indicates that various aspects of the programme to combat environmental degradation have to be further worked out. Utilisation of wood and non-wood forest productsFive sub-programmes have been identified of which three should be undertaken jointly with other departments, namely (I) foliage and fruits as forage for livestock, (II) the biology of the Marula tree and fruits for livestock, and (III) the use of trees as food sources for bee keeping. Number (IV), namely utilisation for constructing, fencing and handicraft is not really a research area, but rather a matter of collecting and assessing available information, however including technology and marketing research. Number (V) programme relates to medicinal products, and calls for collaborative research with UNISWA, traditional medical practitioners and other stakeholders. All these sub-programmes contain important research areas, which can be further worked out and enhanced. Agro-forestryThe proposal basically aims at the development of agro-forestry in general. Although this seems primarily a matter of collecting and assessing available information, the plan also calls for research of local traditional agro-forestry practices and for assessment of relevant experiences in agro-forestry from other countries. This particular agro-forestry research proposal is focused on forest inventory and species composition and related monitoring. Although the organisational aspects of the management are not specifically mentioned, there is certainly a need to address these in the research activities. Almost all of the relevant elements from the National Forestry Research Plan are incorporated in the structure representing current requirements for forestry research (see next section). 7.2 Forestry research prioritiesRecent consultations and investigations have revealed a need for forestry research, in particular with respect to priority areas such as community forestry, natural forest resource management, conservation forestry and the impact of forestry on the environment. 7.2.1 Current requirements and feasibility for forestry researchAt the present moment, it is important to define the type of forestry research needed in Swaziland. The report on Human Resource Development required for the Forest Policy and Legislation development distinguishes four types of research, namely Basic Research, Applied Research, Development and Delivery. The report suggests where the focus of research in Swaziland should be, namely primarily on Development, and secondarily on Applied Research and Delivery. Basic Research is not recommended. These recommendations indicate that the primary role of research should be directed towards assessing and evaluating of existing information, setting up and maintaining data management systems, with a secondary role for applied research in limited and selected areas. Research activities should be extended in the future when additional resources become available. Enlargement of the research programme will only be possible after having successfully completed the initial research operations and having implemented the results in development programmes. Table 7-1 presents an overview of actions with related research activities as identified in the National Forestry Programme (Chapters 2 to 5). Most of the 8 research areas listed in the table also occur in the 1992 National Forestry Research Plan. The capacity analysis shows shortcomings in the available capacity of the research programmes, in particular where the capability is estimated as being low (3 out of 8 of the Action groupings). The groupings with an estimated low available capacity for research will consequently also have a low feasibility rating for implementation. The groupings with an estimated medium capability are interpreted in such way that it strongly indicates that the proposed Department of Forestry has sufficient capacity to initiate and implement most of that particular research activity. However, it is important that the research section of the proposed Department of Forestry seeks support from other national and international institutions. The three Action groupings with very high priority and medium current capability should be given highest priority in the research programme. For the same reasons these three groupings have been selected for the fourth Immediate Action Programme, as further described in Chapter 10. Table 7-1: Research activities as incorporated in the National Forestry Programme
7.2.2 Conclusions and institutional research arrangementsAnalysis of the current situation indicates that there is at the present moment not sufficient justification and political support for a large forestry research programme. However, several important research applications and developments would justify a modest research section within the proposed Department of Forestry. The research should focus on market driven developments and applied research in order to assist forestry staff in effective service and products delivery. Given the focus on research application, an efficient information and data management service within the proposed Department of Forestry is extremely important (see Chapter 6). Another essential element is an effective mechanism of exchange of research information with corresponding institutions in other countries. The limited resource base necessitates that research be undertaken under a broader research programme through collaboration of the proposed Department of Forestry with other institutions such as the University of Swaziland, the Swaziland Foresters Association and the private sector. The research should be co-ordinated through the National Research Council. The Environment Management Bill 2001 calls for the establishment of a National Environment Fund to act as seed capital for environmental projects. This fund could amongst others be used to undertake conservation forestry research. Research is also required for many other land uses in Swaziland, including agriculture, wildlife, water, land rehabilitation, etc. There is a need for an overall science and technology research institution as a long-term strategy to conduct co-ordinated natural resource research programmes. In this overall research framework a greater co-operation is required with international research institutions and donors. 7.2.3 Priority action programme
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