86 The informal trade of Cassipourea flanaganii as a cosmetic in South Africaincrease in the number of forests under the department’s control. Since
this change, however, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has
struggled unsuccessfully to manage these areas because of increasing
financial and staffing constraints. Decision-making bodies have subsequently
realised that the department would never be in position to manage the
indigenous forest effectively without the co-operation and assistance of
local communities and other stakeholders. This thinking was reinforced by
growing international trends and pressures for increased community
involvement and participation in the management of indigenous forests.
Since 1998 the department has subsequently adopted an institutional and
legislative context that supports the implementation of participatory forest
management, which aims to include all stakeholders in collaborative forest
management—be it in the form of agreements, shared regulatory roles or
community monitoring systems (N. Michell personal communication). In 1998
the department also passed the National Forest Act, which makes provision
for the special protection of forests and trees as well as the setting aside of
protected areas. Sustainable utilisation is, however, an important component
of indigenous forest management. Consequently the department has adopted
a mission statement emphasising the conservation (preservation and
utilisation) of natural forests and wood lots on a sustainable and scientific
basis for the benefit of all (RSA Government Gazette 1998). Inhabitants of
communities in proximity to state forests are thus permitted to harvest an
armload of dry material per person per day for household use. No tools to
chop or containers to transport material are permitted. Only subsistence
use of forest products is permitted and commercial harvesting is illegal
(Anonymous 1997).
This stance has also resulted in the department’s policy no longer being one of
patrolling and imposing law enforcement to keep people out of the forests. In
1996 the department removed weapons from the forest guards. In Pirie State
Forest, the forest guards retaliated and refused to patrol the area after a forest
guard was killed by illegal timber harvesters in the area (C. Kameni personal
communication).
Despite adoption of the Participatory Forest Management Policy program by
the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in 1998 no concrete steps have been
undertaken towards its implementation in Pirie State Forest. The government
has, however, indirectly increased its involvement in raw material production
through the new legislation by permitting access to harvest for subsistence
purposes. Currently no effective management structures are in place and neither
the community structures nor the department is effectively managing the
indigenous forest (C. Kameni personal communication). As a result gatherers in
the surrounding communities have relatively free access to indigenous resources.
The gatherers are aware, however, that their commercial activities are considered
illegal and harvesting is undertaken apprehensively. Nevertheless, harvesting is
undertaken on an unsustainable basis and is having a detrimental impact on the
survival of C. flanaganii and other species.05cassipourea.p65 86 22/12/2004, 11:04