5. FAO’s Year book on Forest Products

The FAOSTAT Forestry Statistics Database contained insufficient data for Botswana particularly trade statistics. The country data, particularly the quantity data is insufficient. The country data is presented in annexes 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b.

The Production Statistics Data from manufacturing establishments were compiled from the Industrial Statistics bulletin (1992/93 – 1995/96), that is published by the Central Statistics Office. The quantity data is not reported because of associated errors in its collection process and the difficulty in converting it to the Harmonised System. Therefore the quantity estimates for production are unreliable. It was difficult to make comparisons with the FAOSTAT data for Botswana because only roundwood data was been reflected in the FAO database. The FAO data was presented in the calendar years whereas the production data obtained for Botswana was expressed in the government financial year system i.e. from April to March. The production data would be properly coded and published by calendar years in the next CSO publication (later this year). During the data collection process it was evident that trends in consumption were not well documented. It is assumed that consumption is equivalent to production. This was also reflected in the FAOSTAT data.

The trade statistics data were compiled from the Environment Statistics Database. This data is also published as ‘External Trade Statistics’ reports by the Central Statistics Office. It should be noted that for trade statistics data the quantity component for some wood products was missing, i.e. only value was recorded. This undoubtedly impacts on the accuracy of the quantity data. It was also difficult to make a summation of the roundwood data because various components of roundwood were presented in different units i.e. metric tons and cubic meters. It was impossible to make comparisons with the FAOSTAT data on trade statistics because this data was missing from the FAO databases i.e. it was not reported.

It can therefore be concluded that for ‘Botswana country data’ on wood products, value data is the most accurate. The quantity data is full of errors and unreliable.