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Two woodland classification systems are commonly referenced, i.e. the Acocks classification
and the Louw and Rebelo version, both identify a great number of woodland types.
DWAF has also developed its own classification, based not on vegetation potential,
but structural classification of existing woodlands (Refer to the two Baseline Study
on Woodlands in South Africa reports located on the right).
Land covered by woodland are also owned and managed by a diverse range of role players.
The current status of this resource is not well documented and the roles of different
service providers in government and non-government sectors remain poorly understood.
In the past this resource was not really recognised as a forestry responsibility
except where some woodland occurred on state forest land in conservation areas.
However, the policy of the new democratic government as captured in the White Paper
on Sustainable Forest Development i? South Africa included woodlands within the
scope of forest policy. The National Forestry Action Programme of 1997 identified
woodland management as a key area of operation for Forestry. The New Forests Act
of 1998 also includes woodland in its definition of forests and mandates monitoring
and reporting on the state of the forests (woodland). This new legislation aims
to protect woodlands on private and communal land as well as in State forests while
promoting sustainable utilisation.
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