The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is the government
agency responsible for Canada's overseas development assistance. CIDA has
prepared a series of forest and conservation papers on international
forestry. FORESTRY ISSUES cover important sectoral themes and FORESTRY
PROFILES describe forest and conservation projects supported by CIDA. They
are intended to inform and stimulate discussion. The material and a list of
publications is available in hard copy in English and French (and to a
limited extent Spanish and Portuguese) from:
ralph_roberts@ccigate.acdi-cida.gc.ca
An Internet site for electronic distribution is now under consideration.
Your comments are welcomed.
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This FORESTRY PROFILE describes the Forestry Technical Services Fund Project
in Southern Africa that is being assisted by the Canadian International
Development Agency. The PROFILE describes the importance of forests to the
people of Southern Africa, the challenges facing them, initiatives towards
regional programming, Canada's contribution to the project, and the expected
benefits.
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REGIONAL COOPERATION IN FORESTRY:
SADC FORESTRY TECHNICAL SERVICES FUND PROJECT
1. FORESTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Sixty-five percent of Southern Africa is covered by indigenous forests and
woodlands -- 440 million hectares in total. Miombo woodlands, dominated by
a Brachystegia- Julbernardia-Isoberlina association, are the principal type
of forest, with mopane woodlands of Cholophospermum mopane being the most
important commercially. Other important types of forest include acacia
woodlands and the locally valued afromontane forests. In addition, there
are 2.3 million hectares of pine and eucalyptus plantations.
Fuelwood and charcoal are by far the most important uses of wood,
particularly in rural areas. Trees are the single most important source of
energy, more vital than fossil fuels or hydroelectricity. The forests
support local industries that produce lumber, wood panels, pulp, paper,
flooring, and other wood products. Of equal or greater importance is the
diverse range of other products indispensable to the lives of the people in
Southern Africa. Fruits, fish and game, other forest-derived foods, and
medicinal plants are among the common products coming from the indigenous
forests, especially in times of drought. Poles, posts, and domestic
construction materials are also in high demand. The forests are the habitat
for the biologically diverse range of plant and animal species and the
ecosystems upon which the national park systems and the tourist industry are
based. They provide critical environmental functions, such as moderating
the local climate, regulating water production, and conserving the soils.
For this priceless contribution to continue in the future, the forests must
be managed.
2. REGIONAL CHALLENGES TO FORESTS
The principal threat to the future of forests in Southern Africa is
deforestation. It is caused by agricultural expansion for subsistence
farming and pasture, refugee resettlement and colonization programs,
selective cutting for timber, commercial exploitation of medicinal plants,
and the collection of fuelwood and charcoal. The consequences of
deforestation are major: soil erosion that results in reduced productivity
and siltation; loss of forest capital and future economic benefits from the
forests; loss of biodiversity, as a multitude of flora and fauna are
eliminated; and change in local climates, as the moderating effect of the
forest is destroyed.
This degradation is exacerbated by inadequate institutional support; a
shortage of qualified technical personnel; and a growing population that
puts greater and greater demands on the forest resources. Only rudimentary
forms of indigenous forest management are being practised in Southern
Africa. In a few places, forests are being effectively protected from
encroachment. Protection from fire and animal damage is inadequate--a
consequence of the scarce resources at hand. Resource databases do not
exist or are not kept up to date. Silvicultural practices in the natural
forests and reforestation efforts are inadequate to manage them sustainably.
Good research institutions exist within the region, but most of their
efforts over the last four decades have been directed only towards
plantations of exotic tree species. Experiences with indigenous forests are
poorly catalogued, and the information is not shared adequately within the
region. Much needs to be done.
In addition to national initiatives to improve forest management and
development, regional programming has a role to play in addressing
trans-boundary issues, sharing information and experiences, and providing
cost-effective approaches to research, education and training, industrial
development, and data collection.
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Member States of the Southern Africa Development Community
Angola Botswana
Lesotho
Malawi Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa Swaziland
Tanzania
Zambia Zimbabwe
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3. SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
The Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference was formed in 1980,
with headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana. By 1992, it had evolved into the
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). With the addition of the
Republic of South Africa in 1994, SADC membership now includes all of the 11
states in the region. Within the context of broader
socioeconomic and political objectives, SADC strives to foster regional
development and economic growth, alleviate poverty, and enhance the standard
of living and the quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa through
regional integration and cooperation. In terms of the management of natural
resources and the environment, SADC's stated objective is to achieve the
sustainable use of natural resources and the effective protection of the
environment.
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Regional programming has a role to play in addressing trans-boundary issues,
sharing information and experiences, and providing cost-effective approaches
to research, education and training, industrial development, and data
collection.
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4. REGIONAL PROGRAM OF ACTION
SADC has identified a series of objectives for the forestry sector. Of
fundamental importance is the need to sustainably manage the region's
forests for wood products, social and recreational values, water production,
wildlife habitat, and other environmental considerations. Fuelwood
production and regional trade in forest products are to be enhanced. SADC
recognizes the importance of improved public awareness of forestry-related
issues and the need for strengthened capacities in forest research.
In developing its regional forestry program, SADC has identified six program
components:
- training and education
- improved resource management
- improved knowledge of the resource base
- focused research
- resource utilization and marketing
- environmental management
To date, 16 projects have been identified. Five of these have received
full or partial funding including projects on tree seeds, fuelwood
plantations, reforestation, training, and strengthening forestry colleges.
Donor interest in a regional forest inventory and indigenous forest
management is growing.
5. FORESTRY SECTOR TECHNICAL COORDINATION UNIT
Each member state of SADC assumes the responsibility for coordinating the
development of a specific sector. In the case of forestry, the Ministry of
Forestry and Natural Resources of Malawi performs this function through the
Forestry Sector Technical Coordination Unit (FSTCU). Established in 1984,
the FSTCU is a secretariat for the Director of Forestry, who is the
official sector coordinator. Located in the Department of Forestry, the
FSTCU provides leadership in regional forestry programming; prepares project
proposals; seeks funding for regional forestry projects; organizes and
finances technical meetings, workshops, and seminars related to forest
sector development; promotes networking and information exchange; and is
developing a forest sector database. The Government of Malawi supports the
FSTCU by providing staff, an operations budget, office space, and logistics.
As representatives of the member states, the SADC forestry departments are
involved in all aspects of the project. The FSTCU also works closely with
CIDA, NORAD, Italy, FAO, USDA Forest Service, GTZ, FINNIDA, ODA-UK, and the
European Community to implement on going projects and to plan new ones.
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CIDA initiated the first phase of the SADC Forestry Technical Services Fund
Project to assist Malawi in effectively performing its role as the SADC
forest sector coordinator.
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6. CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION
In 1985, CIDA initiated the first phase of the SADC Forestry Technical
Services Fund Project to assist Malawi in effectively performing its role as
the SADC forest sector coordinator. A Canadian company was engaged to
provide technical assistance through two Canadian foresters resident in
Malawi, short-term consultancies by Canadian and SADC specialists, FSTCU
staff training, and logistical support for regional meetings, workshops, and
seminars. Although institutional capacity building is a long-term process,
the FSTCU will eventually become a self-sustaining unit, technically and
administratively, with the capacity to provide effective regional leadership
to advance forest management and conservation. The Canadian contribution to
the FSTCU comes through a memorandum of understanding for technical
assistance and financial support between the Government of Malawi and CIDA.
To facilitate this, Malawi has signed a contract with a Canadian forestry
consulting firm, Simons Reid Collins of Vancouver, British Columbia. The
current and second phase of Canada's support to the FSTCU is a five-year
project (1993-1998) valued at approximately $US 3.6 million. The project
undertakes the following activities:
6.1 Support to Forestry Program Development
- SADC Project Proposals: through consultations with the member states,
identify new regional projects, undertake planning missions and feasibility
studies as required, engage short-term Canadian and SADC consultants, and
prepare the formal project proposals based on the preparatory planning work.
- SADC Workshops and Meetings: organize and sponsor the annual meeting of
the Technical Sub-Committee on Forestry, which brings together all the
directors of the region's forestry departments, periodic workshops on the
planning of new regional projects, and regional study tours associated with
the development of new cooperation initiatives.
- Regional Forestry Strategy Development: assist in developing a regional
forestry program of action, promote coordination among member states'
national action plans, help prepare a women-in-development policy for the
SADC Forest Sector and a plan of action that will lead to gender issues
being integrated into all FSTCU activities.
6.2 Support to FSTCU Operations
- Donor Liaison: prepare and annually revise a marketing plan for the
unfunded projects, conduct promotional trips to the regional and head
offices of principal donors, and hold meetings to interest potential project
funders.
- Information Management: develop forest sector databases for the region,
write the Forestry Flash bi-monthly newsletter on regional forest issues,
and develop and maintain a document resource centre at the FSTCU office.
-Operational Project Management: prepare and implement a monitoring plan for
on- going regional projects, attend project meetings, and review and provide
comment on project reports.
- FSTCU Staff Training: prepare and periodically update a staff training
plan; provide on-the-job training, short-term courses, workshops, field
trips, and other appropriate training.
- Project Administration: develop modern, efficient office procedures and
systems for the administration of the FSTCU; assist in preparing approval
documents for project activities and funding; assist in preparing annual
project workplans, budgets, and progress reports; and help identify and
recruit professional attachments to the FSTCU from other SADC countries.
The FSTCU is attempting to increase the participation of women in the forest
sector in SADC by creating policy on women's participation, advancing women
into decision-making positions, developing programs that respond to their
needs, encouraging women to enter all facets of forestry, and increasing
their benefits from, and involvement in, forestry development. Despite the
progress being made, more needs to be done.
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The FSTCU is now better equipped to identify and plan projects effectively
and to secure funding for them. Seven projects have been funded already
with commitments of nearly $US 70 million.
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7. BENEFITS TO SADC REGION
The people and institutions of Southern Africa enjoy many direct and
indirect benefits from the Forestry Technical Services Fund Project. The
FSTCU benefits from improved capacity to coordinate regional forestry
cooperation, networking, training, regional communications and information
exchange, and monitoring regional projects. The FSTCU is now better equipped
to identify and plan projects effectively and to secure funding for them.
Seven projects have been funded already with commitments of nearly $US 70
million. They have resulted in improved regional cooperation and
information exchange, increased reforestation and fuelwood production,
improved tree seed supplies, and strengthened forestry training. The FSTCU
has also been instrumental in encouraging regional initiatives to improve
forest fire management, resource inventories, and forest product trade.
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Better management of the region's forest resources will help to reverse the
trends of deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification.
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Improved forest management in Southern Africa, due in part to the efforts of
the FSTCU, will have a significant impact on the region's people and their
environment. Better management of the region's forest resources will help
to reverse the trends of deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification.
This will translate into positive benefits to the region's people in the
form of greater food security, increased land productivity, and reduced
poverty. Sustainably managed woodlands will provide a secure source of the
wood-based energy that the rural population depends on so heavily.
For more information, contact:
Senior Adviser, Forests and Conservation
Policy Branch
Canadian International Development Agency
200 Promenade du Portage
Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A 0G4
email: ralph_roberts@ccigate.acdi-cida.gc.ca
or
Director General, Southern Africa Region
Africa and Middle East Branch
Canadian International Development Agency
200 Promenade du Portage
Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A 0G4
email:arthur_saper@ccigate.acdi-cida.gc.ca
June, 1995
APPENDIX
CURRENT STATUS OF ACTIVE REGIONAL PROJECTS
SADC FORESTRY PROGRAM OF ACTION
Name of Project Estimated
Funding
B
udget, $US Status
Special Facility for SADC Forestry Project
Development 3,600,000
fully funded by CIDA
Urban Fuelwood Project 14,400,000
partially funded NORAD
Regional Forest Inventory 15,000,000
unfunded
Regional Tree Seeds Centres Network 12,000,000 fully
funded by CIDA
Improve. and Strengthen. Forestry Colleges II 14,400,000 fully funded
by FINNIDA
Rehabilitation and Reforest. Mining Areas 700,000 unfunded
Community Forestry Development 9,900,000 unfunded
Development of Montane Forest Resources 4,000,000 unfunded
Reforestation and Erosion Control 1,600,000 fully
funded by FINNIDA
Centre for Adv. Practical Forestry Training 4,100,000 fully
funded by NORAD
Optimal Management of Watershed Areas 900,000 unfunded
Agroforestry in Arable and Pastoral Farming 3,000,000 unfunded
Management of Indigenous Forests 10,000,000 unfunded
Rural Plantations and Timber Processing 8,500,000 unfunded
Strength. Forest and For. Product Research 5,000,000 unfunded
Forestry Information Management
Network System 1,700,000
unfunded
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