Planted forests
Description of plantation resources
Introduction
South Africa has a small area of natural forests. The natural forests are mostly in small scattered patches with a total area of 327 600 ha, constituting only about 0.2 percent of the land area of the country. In addition, open savanna woodlands occupy about 28 million ha (DWAF, 1996a).
FAO has estimated the area of the natural forest cover in 1990 as 7 243 000 ha or 5.9 percent of the land area of the country (FAO 1995). The difference in area appears to be mainly due to differing definitions of forests.
Development of forest plantations
Establishment of forest plantations in South Africa was initiated in 1896 to meet fuelwood demand, props for mines and timber. Exotics from Australia, America and Europe were tried, as the growth rate of native species was too slow. The areas planted increased rapidly from 1920 onwards.
The first large plantations were mainly Acacia mearnsii, grown for its tannin-rich bark. Several species of Eucalyptus spp. were then planted, mainly for mine props. The need for construction timber led to the establishment of large-scale plantations of Pinus spp. in Cape Peninsula. Trees were planted on high-lying grassland areas, particularly in wetter regions (Anon., 1995). The private sector soon joined in.
However, the afforested area, expanded faster after the Second World War with increased involvement of the private sector. Emergence of a domestic pulp and paper industry became the major driving force, along with the availability of suitable land, a favourable climate and government support (DWAF, 1997). The total area planted reached 923 900 ha by 1965. Annual planting during 1960-1965 was about 45 000 ha (FAO, 1967).
Prior to 1972, afforestation proceeded more or less unchecked. The same year, a permit system was introduced to control and disperse afforestation among catchments, as the plantations and naturalization of the planted species was adversely affecting water supplies for urban and industrial purposes (DWAF, 1996a). The annual rate of planting during 1981-1990 was about 18 000 ha and the total planted area to the end of 1990 was about 1 333 million ha (DWAF, 1991).
Of the total plantation area of 1 487 000 ha in 1995, four large private companies together owned 47 percent and smaller private companies and individuals, including out-growers, owned 23 percent. The rest was owned by the state, of which 270 400 ha was with the state-owned company, SAFCOL, and the balance on land of former apartheid "homelands". Most industrial plantations are located where climatic conditions are suitable for afforestation: Mpumalanga (41 percent), Kwazulu-Natal (37 percent), the Eastern Cape (11 percent), the Western Cape (6 percent) and the Northern Province (5 percent) (DWAF, 1997).
Species composition
Eucalyptus and Pinus are the main genera dominating the plantations of South Africa. Eucalyptus grandis is the main eucalyptus species. Other eucalyptus species are E. saligna and E. camaldulensis. The main pine species are Pinus patula, P. elliottii and some to extent P. taeda and P. radiata. Acacia mearnsii has been planted for bark production for the tanning industry. Plantations yield 19 million m3 of round wood, which gives an average productivity of 11 m3/ha/year. Experts, however, claim that about 15 to 18 m3/ha/year could be achieved (DWAF, 1997).
Growth and yield
Growth rates of some species are: 17 to 20 m3/ha/year for Pinus spp.; 18 to 20 m3/ha/year for Eucalyptus spp. and 11,5 :m3/ha/year for Acacia spp.Trend
Because of various regulations introduced by the government on the use of water and land, the forestry sector has been put under tighter control and the cost of planting has increased (SH, 1999). Afforestation permits are not issued for many of the catchments in the country and areas suitable for afforestation are diminishing (DWAF, 1997).
The strategy is to enhance the annual production of roundwood from the existing plantation areas by applying genetic improvement and better silviculture to all plantation areas. The present policy of the government emphasises promoting community forestry and timber outgrowers schemes.
Issues
There is a major concern about the effects of plantation forestry and naturalized plantation species on water resources and biological diversity and investigations are ongoing about how to manage and mitigate these effects. There is also concern about the possible spread of new pests and diseases, the risks inherent to monoculture forests and future effects on atmospheric pollution or from unpredictable drought (DWAF, 1997).
References
DWAF. 1991. South African Forestry Facts. Country Report. In 10th World Forestry Congress. August, 1991, Paris, France. Pretoria, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
DWAF. 1995. Benefits and costs of plantation forestry-case studies from Mpumalanga. FOR-DEA-939. Pretoria, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
DWAF. 1996a. White paper on sustainable forest development in South Africa, The policy of the government of national unity. Pretoria, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
DWAF. 1996b. Questionnaire reply on the evaluation of forest plantation of the FAO. Pretoria, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
DWAF. 1997. South Africa's National Forestry Action Programme. Pretoria, Department of Water affairs and Forestry.
FAO. 1967. World Symposium on Man-made Forests and their Industrial Importance. Unasylva (21): 3-4. Rome.
FOA. 1998. Abstract of South African forestry fact for the year 1996/97. Forest Owners Association, South Africa.
FAO. 1995. Forest Resources Assessment 1990, Tropical forest plantation resources. FAO Forestry Paper 128: 81, Rome.
Pandey, D. 1998. Forest plantation areas 1995. November 1997, revised July 1998. Report to the FAO project GCP/INT/628/UK (unpublished)
SH. 1999. Planting increasing after a mixed year. The Southern Hemisphere Forest Industry Journal, 5 (2). Rotorua, New Zealand, Trade and Media Services Ltd.