SOUTH AFRICA

Only about 7-8% of South Africa is forested and forest areas are fragmented. However, deforestation is not a serious problem; between 1990 and 2005, only 0.8% of forest and woodland habitat was lost. South Africa has a very rich biodiversity, with over 1,600 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

South Africa has one of the largest cultivated forestry resources in the world and production from these plantations was 16.7million m3 in 2000 (the latest available figures), worth 2.6 billion rand ($250 million). The main exports are pulp and value-added solid wood. Over 1 million ha of commercial forestry plantations in South Africa are currently certified by the FSC and ISO 4001 certification schemes, making the country a world leader in certification. Research has shown that the forestry industry saw certification as a marketing tool and readily accepted it. The result has been more environmentally sustainable forestry operations and increased social awareness amongst foresters.

However, concern has been expressed recently by NGOs over the legality of many plantations (up to 40%) and accusations have been made about them being developed on community land, destroying grassland and detrimentally affecting water resources and soil quality. The rigours of the FSC process have been questioned.

The government is pursuing a reform programme in the forestry sector, leasing state-owned forest land to private sector operators. It is also promoting rural development and economic empowerment through a small-grower afforestation programme, which has so far helped to establish over 18,000 small timber growers.

The government takes a serious approach to enforcement; in one recent case, six men found guilty of illegally felling protected Yellowwood trees were given eight-year jail sentences.

DOCUMENTS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
01/05/2009	Forest Governance Learning Group Update May 2009 This 7th Forest Governance Learning Group Update describes activities and their impacts over the last ...	Forest Governance Learning Group
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30/10/2008	Life as Commerce: Certification in South Africa Report on plantation certification in South Africa, and in particular the impact of market-based conservation ...	Global Forest Coalition and Timberwatch
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01/06/2008	Forest Governance Learning Group Update June 2008 This Update highlights the impacts and plans of the Forest Governance Learning Group in its country-based ...	IIED
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01/02/2008	Forest Products Trade between China and Africa: An Analysis of Imports and Exports Recent media coverage of China's efforts to secure access to natural resources in Africa suggests ...	Forest Trends (Kerstin Canby, James Hewitt, Luke Bailey, Eugenia Katsigris, Sun Xiufang)
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11/06/2004	Forest Certification in South Africa this paper was presented at a symposium on forest certification in developing and 'transitioning' ...	Ham, Cori (Ukwazisa Consulting, South Africa)
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NEWS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
16/05/2008	Hefty jail terms for Yellowwood cutters Hefty sentences have been imposed by the Umzimkhulu High Court in an unprecedented case in the country's ...	Legalbrief (South Africa)
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23/03/2007	South African plantations need further controls Up to 40 per cent of all timber plantations in South Africa may be illegal. This is partly due to the ...	People & the Planet (UK)
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PRESENTATIONS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
01/11/2007	China-Africa Forest Product Trade: An overview	Forest Trends (Sun Xiufang)
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