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20-Jun-2011 4:21 PM  
THE FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT FUNCTION
 
Programmes of the Forestry and Natural Resources Management Branch

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is the custodian of South Africa's agriculture, fisheries and forestry resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies governing the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors

The vision of the department is to be 'a leading, dynamic, united, prosperous and people-centred department, leading to the effective management of the nation's natural resources, to meet the needs of current and future generations'.

To fulfill its mandate and obligations, the department has nine branches. Forestry and Natural Resources Management is one of these branches with three Chief Directorates, namely: Forestry Development and Regulation, Forestry Operations and Natural Resources Management.The main purpose of the Forestry and Natural Resources Branch within the department is to develop and facilitate the implementation of policies and targeted programmes to ensure management of forests, sustainable use and protection of land and water as well as managing agricultural risks and disasters. It addresses South Africa's framework for sustainable development, cooperative governance and participation of local communities in forest management, as provided for by the White Paper on Sustainable Forest Development (1996), the National Forestry Action Programme (1997), the resultant National Forests Act (1998) and the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (1998).

Forestry has been recognised as one of the key sectors with the potential to contribute to poverty alleviation, and economic growth and development. As a result, Forestry is part of the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF), and the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGI-SA).

In line with the vision of the department, the Forestry and Natural Resources Management Branch has embarked on various programmes aimed at meeting the social and economic needs of the current and future generations whilst benefiting the environment. A brief description and purpose of these programmes are provided below.
Forestry and Natural Resources Management Branch
Aim : To develop and facilitate the implementation of policies and targeted programmes to ensure management of forests, sustainable use and protection of land and water as well as managing agricultural risks and disasters.
1.
Forestry Regulation and Oversight: provide forestry regulation and oversight. Develops National norms and standards of sustainable forest management. Administer the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998 and the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act 101 of 1998) and supports rural socio-economic development through access and use of State forests and developing systems and strategies for preventing, managing and monitoring veld and forest fires. It supports sustainable forest management by monitoring forestry management and ensuring that there is sufficient capacity at the local level for implementing forestry legislation. Provides technical advice to, and support for, the organisation and operation of local institutions to prevent veld and forest fires and to achieve fire management goals in general. Ensures sustainable use of the natural resource base through the management of the overall system for forestry data, information, and knowledge, including spatial and non-spatial forestry information. It also ensures access to forestry information by sector stakeholders and the gathering of forestry information by the regions.
2.
Small Scale Forestry: promote optimum development of arboriculture, commercial and urban forestry. State Forest Transfer, Regulation, Administration and Oversight deals with the transfer, and post-transfer administration and regulation, of state forests and relations with stakeholders. It includes the management of delegations and legal agreements on state forests and the collection and management of lease rentals. Forest planning and audits direct commercial forestry (performance criteria and indicators) through planning and audits.
3.
Commercial Forestry: develops strategies that support Forestry Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Charter and that enable communities to make use of tree and forest resources to improve their livelihoods. This includes international liaison, which promotes forestry development in South Africa, in the SADC region and in Africa as a whole. It further develops forest enterprise development and Livelihoods programmes that enable communities to participate in the benefits of forestry to generate economic growth and sustain livelihoods. Of note is the afforestation subprogramme which offers opportunities for new entrants into the sector.
4.
Forestry operations: ensures sustainable management of forestry operations. Manage and co-ordinate forestry in the provinces. Manage State forests and associated assets. Enforce the National Forest Act (NFA) and National Veld and Forest Fire Act (NVFFA). Plan and execute plantation production management plans. Implement social forestry programmes.
5.
Woodlands & Indigenous forests management: ensure an enabling framework for the sustainable management of woodlands and indigenous forests. Set norms and standards for indigenous forests and woodland management. Development of rehabilitation programmes for woodlands and indigenous forests. Conservation planning and compliance with the national biodiversity management frameworks.
6.
Water use & irrigation development: ensure the efficient development and revitalization of irrigation schemes and water use. Manage and promote sector water conservation and use management. Ensure and support the establishment of irrigation schemes. Support sectoral compliance with the National water use framework.
7.
Climate Change & Disaster Management: facilitate climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk and disaster management. Develop and provide a National policy framework climate change and disaster management for the sector. Ensure effective planning and implementation of an early warning system in support of associated sector risk management. Co-ordinate post disaster recovery and rehabilitation. Implement climate change programmes in support of risk and disaster management and ensure sectoral compliance with the National Climate Change Response framework and regional and international obligations. Prevent production losses by combating migratory pests and diseases.
8.
Land Use & Soil Management: promote, regulate and co-ordinate the sustainable use of natural resources (land and soil). Manage and co-ordinate land administration, servitudes, releases and 3rd party matters. Promote effective management of soil resources. Set norms and standards and ensure compliance with the CARA and related policy framework. Maintain and provide an information system on the use and state of natural resources (land and soil). Provide norms and standards for land and soil rehabilitation programmes.

 
 
Related References
  Policy Principles and Guidelines for Control of Development Affecting Natural Forests
  National Forests Act, 84 of 1998
  National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 101 of 1998
  White Paper on Sustainable Forest Development in South Africa, 1996
  Briefing Document on Forestry in the Department, 2005
 
 
 
 
Careers in Forestry
  Careers Brochure