The National Forest Policy, 2002


This is the draft Forest Policy and as such is a working document and not a formal policy document. It should not be interpreted as the policy of the Government of Swaziland or the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives until it has been finally agreed and adopted. 

[See also the National Forestry Programme]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

PREAMBLE

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Justification for the National Forest Policy

1.2 Forest policy vision

1.3 Forest policy objectives

1.4 forest policy principles

1.5 National policy context

1.5.1 National policies and strategies

1.5.1.1 The National Development Strategy (NDS), 1999

1.5.1.2 The draft National Land Policy (NLP), 2000

1.5.1.3 The draft National Environment Policy (NEP), 1999

1.5.1.4 The Swaziland Environment Action Plan (SEAP), 1997

1.5.1.5 The draft National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), 2001

1.5.1.6 The National Physical Development Plan (NPDP), 1996

1.5.1.7 The draft National Population Policy Framework for Swaziland, 2000

1.5.2 Sectoral policies and strategies

1.5.2.1 The Urban Government Policy, 1996

1.5.2.2 The draft Peri-urban Growth Policy, 1997

1.5.2.3 The draft Tourism Policy, 2000

1.5.2.4 The draft Resettlement Policy, 2001

1.5.2.5 The Livestock Development Policy, 1995

1.5.2.6 The draft National Water Policy, 2000 and Bill, 2001

1.5.2.7 The draft National Energy Policy, 2001

1.5.2.8 The draft Rural Electrification Policy, 2001

1.5.2.9 The National Action Program of the Convention to Combat Desertification (NAP), 1998

1.5.2.10 National Initiatives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1996

1.6 Existing Legislation

1.6.1 Institutional Acts

1.6.1.1 The Natural Resources Act 71/1951

1.6.1.2 The Swaziland Environment Authority Act 15/1992

1.6.1.3 The Swazi Administration Order 6/199

1.6.2 Flora Protection and Management Acts

1.6.2.1 The Flora Protection Act 5/2001

1.6.2.2 The Control of Tree Planting Act 7/1972

1.7 International linkages

1.7.1 International initiatives and forest principles

1.7.2 International conventions

1.7.3 The Forest Protocol of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

1.7.4 International trade agreements

2 ISSUES AND POLICY STATEMENTS

2.1 Industrial Forestry

2.1.1 Sustainable management of commercial plantations

2.1.1.1 Criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management

2.1.1.2 Economic sustainability

2.1.1.2.1 Long-term economic sustainability of plantation forests

2.1.1.2.2 Introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

2.1.1.3 Social sustainability

2.1.1.4 Environmental sustainability

2.1.1.4.1 Effects on water consumption

2.1.1.4.2 Effects on soil properties

2.1.1.4.3 Effects on biodiversity

2.1.1.4.4 Pollution and effluents from wood production and processing industries

2.1.2 Multiple use of plantations

2.1.2.1 Collection of plantation forest products by neighbouring communities

2.1.2.2 The role of plantation forests in overall watershed management

2.1.2.3 The role of industrial forestry in national energy supply

2.1.3 Commercial forestry outgrower schemes

2.1.3.1 Planning of outgrower schemes

2.1.3.2 Traditional administration and tenure rights of outgrower schemes

2.1.4 Prospects for expansion of plantation forest

2.1.4.1 Sustainable expansion of industrial forest area

2.1.5 Value Adding Initiatives

2.1.5.1 Establishment of value adding industries

2.1.5.2 Forestry and existing fiscal policy

2.2 Community Forestry

2.2.1 Community woodlots

2.2.1.1 Planning of woodlots

2.2.1.2 Community woodlot management skills

2.2.1.3 Ownership and user rights of woodlots

2.2.2 Wattle forests

2.2.2.1 Commercial production and management of wattle

2.2.2.2 The effect of wattle on biodiversity

2.2.2.3 Non-commercial use and management of wattle resources

2.2.2.4 User rights of wattle on communal land

2.2.3 Agro-forestry

2.2.3.1 Scope for agro-forestry development in Swaziland

2.2.3.2 Selection of suitable tree species

2.2.4 Trees and land rehabilitation

2.2.4.1 Effective use of trees in conservation and rehabilitation of land

2.2.5 Communal rights and responsibilities in indigenous forest management

2.2.5.1 Communal responsibility for the management of indigenous forests

2.2.5.2 Ownership and user rights

2.2.6 Services to support community forestry

2.2.6.1 Effective services to community forestry

2.3 Urban forestry

2.3.1 Planning of forestry in urban and peri-urban zones

2.3.1.1 The functions and benefits of urban forestry

2.3.1.2 Green belts and special habitats as protected urban areas

2.3.1.3 Planning of urban and peri-urban green belts and forested areas

2.3.1.4 Community participation in urban forestry planning

2.3.2 Management of urban and peri-urban forestry

2.3.2.1 Control of trees and forests in urban land

2.3.2.2 Development of management capability and capacity

2.4 Natural forests and woodlands

2.4.1 Key management aspects of natural forests and woodlands

2.4.1.1 Current management of the natural forests and woodlands

2.4.1.2 Underlying causes of forest degradation

2.4.1.3 Management of forest fires

2.4.1.4 Valuation and natural resource accounting of forest and woodland resources

2.4.2 Commercial management aspects of natural forests and woodlands

2.4.2.1 Improving commercial use and management of communal forest resources

2.4.2.2 Trade in forest products with proper valuation

2.4.2.3 Small processing industries based on forest products

2.4.2.4 Community involvement in the management of protected areas

2.4.3 Valuation and use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs)

2.4.3.1 The value of non-timber forest products

2.4.3.2 Research into utilisation of non-timber forest products

2.4.3.3 Medicinal plants

2.4.3.4 Indigenous tree species used for woodcraft

2.4.4 The role of natural forests in the production of fuelwood and provision of energy

2.4.4.1 Estimate of the need for fuelwood

2.4.4.2 Sustainable fuelwood production from natural forest resources

2.4.4.3 The balance between fuelwood from natural and other sources

2.4.5 Cultural importance of forest resources

2.4.5.1 Supply of trees and plant materials essential for cultural purposes

2.4.5.2 Spiritual needs and rights related to forest resources

2.4.6 Forestry and tourism

2.4.6.1 The value of natural forests and woodlands for forestry and tourism

2.4.6.2 Use of government controlled land for forestry and tourism

2.4.7 Conservation of the biodiversity of natural forest resources

2.4.7.1 Preservation of genetic forest plant resources

2.4.7.2 Indigenous ecological knowledge

2.4.7.3 Threats to biodiversity

2.4.7.3.1 Lack of knowledge and public awareness raising

2.4.7.3.2 Development of programmes to address threats to biodiversity

2.4.7.3.3 Control of invasive alien plant species

2.4.7.4 Coverage and size of biodiversity conservation areas in Swaziland

2.4.7.5 Identification and selection of flora protection areas

2.4.7.6 Protection of wetlands

2.4.7.7 Protection and conservation of hill and mountain forests and woodlands

2.4.7.8 Management of future protection areas

3 INSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL AND PLANNING ARRANGEMENTS

3.1 Institutional framework

3.1.1 The role of Government

3.1.2 Institutional requirements

3.2 National Forestry Programme

3.3 Human resource development and education

3.4 Research

3.5 Information and data management

3.6 Transboundary Concerns

3.7 Legal framework

3.7.1 Status of existing forestry related legislation

3.7.2 Provisions needed in new forest legislation


APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 OVERVIEW OF EXISTING LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO FORESTRY

APPENDIX 2 FORESTRY-RELATED INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND CONVENTIONS

APPENDIX 3 DRAFT NATIONAL LEVEL CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN SWAZILAND

APPENDIX 4 FOREST RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND DATA SYSTEMS

APPENDIX 5 HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH


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This page was last updated on 25 November 2004