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]

9 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND STAFF REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Justification and Objectives

9.1.1 Justification

The role of forestry has changed considerably during the last 10 or 20 years from the previous narrow view concerned with conventional industrial forestry only. Today it includes all the economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects of life embracing the natural and planted forests on communal owned land in rural, urban and peri-urban areas. Forestry plays an increasingly important role in sustaining the economy and livelihoods of communities.

Forestry provides a wide range of non-timber forest products that greatly contribute to food security, poverty alleviation, traditional health services, employment, income generation, etc. Forest products play an important role in Swazi culture and traditions. Urban and peri-urban forests and green areas are important for amenity and recreation of the population.

Forestry has a role in environmental protection, conservation and management, e.g. in combating desertification, controlling climate change and conserving biodiversity. Pristine natural forests and woodlands are often integral parts of eco-tourism ventures attracting tourists and providing income opportunities at a national and local basis. Furthermore it stabilises the natural resource base by sustaining production and supporting ecological systems (water and nutrient cycles, etc).

There is a need to strengthen and improve the capacity of the government Forestry Service to be able to fully manage and monitor the forests and other related natural resources, and to enhance the well being of the population of Swaziland. It is through a strengthened Forestry Service that the aspirations, goals and objectives of the National Forest Policy, Legislation and National Forestry Programme can be successfully implemented and enforced to contribute to the provision of the needs of the people of Swaziland.

9.1.2 Objectives

The primary mandate of the country’s Forestry Service is the sustainable use and management of the forests and woodlands of Swaziland. The objectives of an efficient and adequately equipped Department of Forestry are to contribute to:

• Improving the quality and security of life of the people of Swaziland through sustainable use of forests and forest products;
• Enhancing leadership role in policy and legislative guidance to sustain forest sector development;
• Improving data and forestry information for better planning and management of forest resources;
• Increasing knowledge of sustainable forestry practices through education, research and technology development.
• Conserving biodiversity conservation and developing watershed management, tourism, land rehabilitation and enhanced rational energy production;
• Co-ordinating partnerships with the industrial, community and urban forest sector;
• Improving national forest accounts through formal and informal forest sub-sectors;
• Improving urban and peri-urban environments and living conditions through conserving and managing urban forests and green zones.

9.2 General organisation of the proposed Department of Forestry

The functions required at the first and highest level of the Department of Forestry relate principally to management and advise to the Government. In addition, the Minister receives advice from the Forest Advisory Board. The proposed management of the Department of Forestry consists of the Director of Forestry and two Assistant Directors.

The nature of the forestry activities that are required for achieving the forestry objectives justify the separation of two major divisions at the second level, namely the Forestry Technical Services and the Forestry Extension Services. Assistant Directors head the Services and also form part of the overall Management of the Department to assist the Director of Forestry.

The wide range of forestry task requires subdivision of both the Technical and Extension Services Divisions, the former pertaining to technical functions and the latter to regional extension service. Four technical sections are distinguished at the third level within the Forest Technical Services. A Regional Forestry Officer heads the four regional co-ordinating offices of the Forest Extension Service. Each of the regions is subdivided into two sub-regions.

The requirements of the functions of each of these units are described in the following sections. The proposed organisation of the divisions, sections and units is presented in the comprehensive overview of the structure of the Department of Forestry in Figure 1.

9.3 Management requirements of the Department of Forestry

9.3.1 Forest Advisory Board

The primary function of the Forest Advisory Board is to advise the Minister responsible for forestry. The operational aspects of the Board are described in the draft Forest Act for Swaziland of 2002. The Act provides details on the constitution and composition of the Board, as well as on the conditions of appointment. The Board shall consist of a maximum of 20 members and a minimum of 13 members, which will be appointed by the Minister. The Board will comprise representatives with knowledge of forest and woodlands, representing Government, non-governmental organisations, industrial companies, Chiefs, and other relevant bodies or institutions. The Act also describes the meetings and reporting procedures of the Board. It is further stated that the Director of the Department of Forestry will serve as secretary to the Board. The core activities of the Board are summarised as follows:

 

Forest Advisory Board

Functions and Core Activities

Advise on all matters related to forests and sustainable forest management Give recommendations on disbursement of funds from the Swaziland Forest Fund

9.3.2 Departmental management

The required functions and core activities of the management of the Department of Forestry are described as follows. The Director of Forestry is responsible for the overall administration and management of the Department assisted by the Assistant Directors for Forestry Technical Services and Forestry Extension Services. The Department of Forestry is supported by an administration unit, which is seconded from the central ministerial administration management. Such administrative unit provides secretarial and logistic support.

 

Management of the Department of Forestry

Functions and Core Activities

Manage the Department of Forestry Implement and review of the National Forest Policy, the Forest Act and the National Forestry Programme Advise the Government in formulating policies relating to Sustainable Forest Management Advise and make recommendations on forestry to the Government. Liaise with other stakeholders that impact on the National Forest Policy and National Forestry Programme

Short function description of personnel

- Director of Forestry

9.4 Requirements of the Forestry Technical Services Division

The Forestry Technical Services Division is a very important part of the Department of Forestry, responsible for the development and implementation of all technical programmes. An efficient organisation of the division is to have a small unit forming the management of the division, and four sections representing the required technical expertise and capacity.

9.4.1 Management of the Forestry Technical Services Division

The required functions and core activities of the management of the Forestry Technical Services Division are described as follows. The Assistant Director Forestry Technical Services Division is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the division assisted and advised by the Senior Forestry Officers of the Technical Sections.

 

Forestry Technical Services Division (FTSD)

Functions and Core Activities

Management and supervision of the Forestry Technical Services Division Reporting to Director of activities from the Division Development of technical services strategies and approaches Review and update of forest policy and legislation Development of appropriate information and communication strategies Overall planning and monitoring of the technical services Supervision of forest inventories and data management Supervision and co-ordination of forestry research Supervision of National Tree Seed Centre and forest nurseries Supervision and co-ordination of silvicultural activities and forest management Supervision of National Herbarium and botanical gardens

Short function description of personnel

- Assistant Director Forestry Technical Services Division (FTSD)

9.4.2 Forest Policy, Planning and Information Section

The required functions and core activities of the Forest Policy, Planning and Information Section are described as follows:

9.4.3 National Tree Seed and Research Centre

The required functions and core activities of the National Tree Seed and Research Centre are described as follows:

9.4.4 Silviculture and Forest Management Section

The required functions and core activities of the Silviculture and Forest Management Section are described as follows:

9.4.5 National Herbarium Section

The required functions and core activities of the National Herbarium Section are described as follows:

9.5 Requirements of the Forestry Extension Services Division

The Forestry Extension Services Division is the second Division of the Department of Forestry, responsible for the development and implementation of all extension programmes. The most efficient organisation of the division is a small unit forming the management of the division, and four regional co-ordinating offices representing the required extension expertise and capacity.

9.5.1 Management of the Forestry Extension Services Division

The required functions and core activities of the management of the Forestry Extension Services Division are described as follows. The Assistant Director Forestry Extension Services Division is responsible for the day to day operation of the division assisted and advised by the Regional Forestry Officers.

 

Forestry Extension Services Division (FESD)

Functions and Core Activities

Management and supervision of the Forestry Extension Services Division Reporting to Director of activities from the Division Development of efficient and practical extension strategies and approaches Development of appropriate extension information and communication strategies Overall planning, implementation and monitoring of the extension programmes Co-ordination and allocation of manpower, funds, transport and seedlings Conducting needs assessment of farmers and communities Supervision of policy and legislation inspection

Short function description of personnel

- Assistant Director Forestry Extension Services Division (FESD)

9.5.2 Regional Forest Extension Services Coordinating Offices

The four regional coordinating offices cover the four administrative regions, namely Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo. The four regions are each subdivided into two sub-regional units with Senior Foresters posted in the eight sub-regional unit headquarters (see next section).

The required functions and core activities of the Regional Forest Extension Services co-ordinating offices are described as follows. All forestry extension officers need to have a wide range of expertise in forest management practices. However some specialisation related to the major forestry sections (natural forests, community, urban and industrial forestry) will be provided by the technical officers through training of forestry extension personnel. This will ensure delivery of the wide range of services required by communities. Additional specialist knowledge includes agro-forestry, planning, industrial applications and financing, user rights, planting and replanting.

9.5.3 Subdivision of the Regional Forest Extension Services Section

The regional co-ordinating headquarters cover the four administrative regions of Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo, each with a Regional Forest Officer in charge (Table 9-1). The four regions are subdivided into two sub-regional units with Senior Foresters posted in the unit headquarters of Motjane, Piggs Peak, Mankayane, Manzini, Hlathikulu, Nhlangano, Siphofaneni and Siteki, each with their own offices, transport and other logistics.

Table 9-1: Proposed structure of Regional Forestry Extension Services

Additional Foresters are posted as extension staff in the same sub-regional stations and a number of other field stations within these sub-units. Although the Foresters and Assistant Foresters of each sub-regional unit are not posted in the same station, they still work very much as a team in that particular sub-region. The posting of Senior Foresters and Foresters may coincide with the field posting of agricultural extension staff.

9.6 Staff Categories and education levels with the Department of Forestry

During recent consultations and discussions a staffing list of the proposed Department of Forestry has been defined. According to government regulations a rather formal relationship exists between educational background and entry levels. Table 9-2 presents the respective staff categories identified and also indicates where a person with a given educational level may expect to start in terms of work and salary grade. People can however progress within the structure after acquiring the appropriate academic qualification provided that (1) there is a vacancy, (2) the candidate meets the specific requirements for the job, (3) has the required work experience, and (4) has a satisfactory work performance evaluation in the present job.

Table 9-2: Staff categories and required education levels of proposed Department of Forestry

9.7 Proposed institutional framework

A new institutional framework for the proposed Department of Forestry is a logical next step to accommodate the staff requirements for the implementation of the National Forestry Programme. The organogram as presented in Figure 1 not only reflects the required staff as defined in this chapter, but also the most recent institutional review and the agreed staff categories (Table 9-2). The proposed number of Professional Staff is 24 persons and the number of Technical Staff is 34 persons.

Figure 1: Organogram of the proposed Department of Forestry

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This page was last updated on 27 October 2004