This webpage provides information related to national forest policies including nfp and policy implementation instruments. Information related to legal instruments are given in section on Forest Legislation. Kindly click headers below to see the full section.
| | Source: nfp-UPDATE The overall goal of forest policy is to promote a thriving forest sector, to be utilised for the lasting benefit of the nation, and developed and managed to protect the environment. The White Paper (1996) and the resultant National Forests Act (1998) provide the framework for sustainable development, cooperative governance and participation of local communities in forest management. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) has responded to this new policy context with a range of initiatives and in 2003 produced a Vision statement: “Forests are managed for people and we need to create an enabling environment for economic and social development through sustainable forestry, especially at the local level”. The vision implies a significant departure DWAF’s previous role of forest manager to one that puts people at the centre of all its activities. In line with the two policy documents, the state no longer manages forest plantations. The focus of DWAF has shifted towards creating enabling conditions that will allow broad socio-economic development based on the country’s diverse forest resources. This means, in part, developing a range of policies that address the constraints that have held back the benefits of forest enterprise from reaching the majority of the population. Source: nfp-UPDATE SA forest policy is based upon the following principles: - forests and forest resources to be treated as national asset;
- policy to be formulated and implemented so as to promote democratisation;
- gender equity;
- people-driven development;
- consultation in formulating and implementing policy;
- sustainable forest development;
- recognition of the scarcity of water resources;
- a competitive and value-adding forest sector; and
- decent employment conditions.
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