The Swaziland Environment Action Plan (SEAP)

Contents | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

3.1 The Economy | 3.2 People | 3.3 Land | 3.4 Water Sector | 3.5 Biodiversity | 3.6 Agriculture | 3.7 Forestry | 3.8 Manufacturing | 3.9 Tourism | 3.10 Mining | 3.11 Fuel and Energy

3.0 SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

3.3 Land

3.3.1 Present land use

Reliable information on the present land use is a prerequisite for the planning and implementation of programmes related to land and environment. Spatial and tabular land use information is available for Swaziland with the following main categories distinguished: crop agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, extraction and collection, nature protection, settlement and industry, and land not used. Several of these land uses are found in complex patterns, such as small-scale traditional farming in close association with communal grazing. Often there is a primary and secondary use of the same land, e.g. extraction and collections takes place in savannas and woodlands where animal husbandry is the primary use. The primary use of national parks is nature protection, but recreation is an important secondary use.

Table 4 gives an overview of the present main land uses in Swaziland based on the inventory available at scale 1:250,000 (Remmelzwaal and Dlamini, 1994). These categories are the most relevant subdivisions of the major land uses mentioned above. The large-scale commercial crop agriculture can be subdivided into the following: rainfed field cropping (2.0%, mainly cotton and pineapple), irrigated field cropping (3.7%, of which 3.5% sugarcane) and irrigated tree cropping (0.3%, mainly citrus).

Table 4: Main land uses in Swaziland

Source: Remmelzwaal and Vilakati, 1994

The above figures are gross figures. Substantial reductions have to be applied to arrive at net percentages. For instance, about one third of the area occupied by subsistence cropping is used for grass strips and infrastructure, hence the estimated net percentage is no more than 9. Part of the extensive communal grazing area is actually not utilized for grazing because of steep slopes and dense woodlands, hence an estimated net percentage of 42.

3.3.2 Land tenure

Land tenure arrangements play an extremely important role in the management of land and the environment. The history of land tenure arrangements in Swaziland is very complex (Funnell, 1991). There are three main categories of land tenure:

• Swazi Nation Land (SNL)
• Crown Land
• Private Freehold or Title Deed Land (TDL)

There is in fact a fourth category of Concession Land, which is minor and not well defined. Swazi Nation Land is held in trust by the King for the Swazi Nation. Crown Land is land over which Government holds title. Table 7 gives an overview of the main tenure categories based on a national inventory (Remmelzwaal and Vilakati, 1994). Title Deed Land is subdivided into rural and urban. Swazi Nation Land is subdivided into SNL sensu stricto, comprising all the land that was SNL at independence, and SNL Purchased, comprising all freehold land purchased after independence and returned to SNL status. There is still, however, a title on purchased SNL. The subdivision of SNL is made on the basis of the control over the land.

The results of Table 7 can be summarized as follows. The total of TDL amounts to about 25 percent, and the total of SNL to about 74 percent. Of the combined total of SNL sensu stricto and SNL purchased, approximately 75% is controlled by chiefs, 9% by MOAC, 4% by Tibiyo, 3% by NTC and the remaining 9% is leased.

It is to be noted that although the table below presents the best figures available, recent investigations suggest that the percentage of crown land may be significantly higher than the 0.4 given.

Table 7: Land Tenure Types in Swaziland

Source: Remmelzwaal and Vilakati, 1994

3.3.3 Environmental Issues Related to the Land

The following issues related to land and land use in Swaziland have been identified:-

• Degradation due to misuse and overuse. Most serious environmental effects of land degradation include deforestation, soil depletion, loss of habitat, declining biodiversity and range degradation.
• Unsustainable land use and land management, resulting in declining production, degradation and contamination.
• Loss of arable land to settlements, industry, infrastructure etc.
• Disposal of waste, especially hazardous and toxic waste, on land.
• Insufficient preparedness to deal with land-based disasters.
• Inadequate, fragmented and scattered environmental and land legislation.
• Absence of a reliable land information system.

3.3.4 Policy

Status of the Policy

Although there have been calls by technical experts since 1983, by His Majesty (1993) and by the Economic Vusela (1995), there is presently no overall Land Policy. However, under ESRA a draft National Land Policy is to be before cabinet by the end of 1997.

Objectives of a National Land and Environmental Policy (NLEP)

• To alleviate poverty as a major underlying cause of environmental degradation;
• To achieve the best possible use of land through optimal sustainable management of land and water resources in support of equitable economic development;
• To improve environmental conditions and reduce desertification and land degradation;
• To preserve the natural heritage, biodiversity and life supporting ecosystems;
• To improve living conditions and provide adequate and affordable shelter for the entire population.
• To reduce significant threats to human health, ecosystems and future development;
• To provide an efficient and effective supply of energy with optimum utilization of indigenous energy resources;
• To achieve food security through environmentally sound practices;
• To promote human development and capacity building

Policy Strategic Approach

A new multi-sectoral approach to land resource development is needed in order to avoid conflicts and to ensure the best use of natural resources for the benefit of the country at large. It should be based on the following strategies:

• To fully integrate environmental management and economic development planning.
• To approach the planning and development of land and other natural resources in a holistic, integrated and cross-sectoral way.
• To manage natural resources with shared responsibility.
• To develop new partnerships on an equitable basis, and to involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process.

SEAP Volume 2, offers a holistic policy and strategies framework which can be utilized in the development of the NLEP and of specific harmonious and integrated policies for urban, peri-urban and rural land.

3.3.5 Priority Actions