Sheona E. Shackleton and Charlie M. Shackleton 225controversial and ineffective. Any community-based management plan would
need to be a broad contract involving various user groups and authority structures,
and would need to recognise the dependency of producers on the resource.
Thus, whilst it may be difficult to restrict the use of mature trees, there could
be improved and more active management of young trees and saplings. As
discussed for the development of the trade, a multipronged approach involving
all of the above strands is likely to be most effective, although it is important
not to romanticise the notion of sustainable use. Indeed, so long as there is
wood and the opportunity to earn an income from it, rural households on the
breadline will continue to appropriate the resource to feed their families. They
simply cannot afford not to.SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The woodcraft industry in Bushbuckridge makes a significant contribution to
the livelihoods of a small sector of local residents. The impacts of decades of
wood use are now apparent and wood scarcity is fast becoming the greatest
constraint to continued production and growth. Although there has been an
increase in external support for both producers and traders in the last five
years, much of it is piecemeal and uncoordinated. A more focussed long-term
effort by all key stakeholders is necessary if a sustainable industry is to be
achieved. This presents a considerable challenge. Access to alternative sources
of wood is essential. Producers also need to be more involved in management
of the existing resource base. New skills, products, structures and perspectives
are required to bring woodworkers from the margin into the mainstream craft
and curio industry. Lessons from other African countries and elsewhere should
be incorporated into new development strategies. Consumers need to be made
aware of the value of the wood and the time and effort required to produce
woodcarvings and handmade furniture. Local products should be promoted
and be seen as having a special niche in the market instead of being regarded
as inferior to imports or factory produced items. If these issues are addressed,
then there is hope and a future for the woodcraft industry in the Bushbuckridge
lowveld.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Much of our knowledge relating to the woodcraft industry in Bushbuckridge
has been facilitated by Alfred Shabangu, an intrepid entrepreneur and carver.
Thanks are also due all the woodworkers and representatives from a number
of government and non-government organisations who took the time to talk
to us. Useful comments on a draft version of this case study were provided by
Tony Cunningham, Bruce Campbell, John Reynolds and Wavell Standa-Gunda.
The research was funded by Wits Rural Facility (1993) and CIFOR (2000).ENDNOTES- Environmental Science Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown,
6140 South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]
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