South Africa: The White Paper on Sustainable Forest Development in South Africa: Policy of the Government of National Unity

The overall goal 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. Measures include the demarcation of State Forests; promotion of the rehabilitation of natural forests and woodlands; fire protection in districts where forestry is important, and protection against pests and diseases; management and control of invasive alien plants in forestry areas to augment current legislation on the control of weeds; monitoring and evaluation of the state of all of the country’s forests, forest inventories and statistics; accreditation of sustainable forest management and certification of products, according to nationally and internationally acceptable indicators of sustainability; establishment of standards for traded forest products and certification of standards; protection of biodiversity, habitats, soil, cultural assets, in industrial forests; incentives to and financing of smallscale afforestation (such as woodlots), conservation, restoration and related matters; levies for such purposes as research and training.

Date Implemented: 1997

Status: In Force; Mandatory

References: National Communication to the UNFCCC, 2000; The White Paper on Sustainable Forest Development in South Africa: Policy of the Government of National Unity

http://easd.org.za/sapol/forestry.html