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THE FORESTRY FUNCTION
 
Programmes of the Forestry Branch

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is the custodian of South Africa’s water and forestry resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies governing the Water Sector and Forestry Sector.

The vision of the Department is to be “a dynamic , people centred department , leading to the effective management of the nation’s water and forestry resources, to meet the needs of current and future generation”.

To fulfil its mandate and obligations, the department has six branches. Forestry is one of these branches with three Chief Directorates, namely: Forestry Regulation and Oversight, Forestry Regions and Forestry Development. The main purpose of the Forestry Branch is to ensure the sustainable management of the country’s forest resources in order to realize their optimal social, environmental and economic benefits. It addresses South Africa’s framework for sustainable development, co-operative 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) and 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 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 (ASGI-SA).

In line with the vision of the department, the Forestry 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.

1.
Forestry Oversight develops policies to support sustainable forest management, oversees the sector and ensures that policies at all levels of government are coherent. This includes international liaison on sustainable forest management; governance; sector liaison; sector foresight; research; the National Forest Programme; sector liaison; capacity building; and the promotion of Forest Sector Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Charter through policy initiatives.
2.
Forests, Fire Regulation and Governance ensures the administration of 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.
3.
Forestry Development 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.
Forest Technical and Information Services 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.
5.
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.
6.
Forestry Management and Support funds efficient general administration and management support for the programme as a whole.
7.
Forestry Support Services provides technical, financial and general administration support for regional forestry activities.

 
 
Related References
  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
  5 year Strategic Plan 2006/7 – 2010/11
 
 
 
Careers in Forestry
  Careers Brochure