Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

222 The Pterocarpus angolensis DC. based woodcraft industry in the Bushbuckridge district

as highlighted in a national craft industry report (DACST 1998) and demonstrated

by the interdepartmental Spatial Development Initiatives process. Although

these policies have not yet filtered through to the local woodcarving industry,

the situation does bode well for the future for a sector previously ignored by

government.

At provincial and local levels there have been a number of initiatives

targeting the woodcraft industry, most of which have already been mentioned

and are summarised in Table 6. This has included support with marketing,

skills and business training and the provision of wood.

Sector

Donor with

government

Donor

Government

Government

Parastatal

Parastatal

Donor

Parastatal

Private

Private sector

(social

responsibility

programme)

Non-governmental

organisation/donor

Objectives/contribution/interest

Sustainable utilisation of

woodland resource, improvement

of livelihoods, capacity building,

alternative sources of wood

Market outlet at Kruger Gate

Create job opportunities,

preserve skills (craft heritage),

stimulate creative process

Right to earn a sustainable living,

sustainable resource harvesting

Harvesting controls, informal

market stalls

Economic empowerment, Skukuza

Alliance, market outlets,

integration into park activities,

sustainability of carving industry

Markets

Skills development for carvers,

tools

Building of a workshop (this has

not yet been equipped).

Institution

National Department of Water

Affairs and Forestry/Danish

Cooperation for Environment

and Development Bushbuckridge

Community Forestry Project

UK Department for International

Development

Mpumalanga Department of

Sports, Recreation, Arts and

Culture

Mpumalanga Department of

Environmental Affairs and

Tourism

Mpumalanga Parks Board

South African National Parks,

Social Ecology/ Danish

Cooperation for Environment

and Development

South African Forestry Company

Limited

Seagram SA

Independent Development Trust

Table 6. External support for the woodcraft industry in Bushbuckridge

It is difficult to determine the effect these interventions have had on the

woodcarving industry, particularly in Bushbuckridge. Preliminary reports are

mixed. The impact of the Skukuza Alliance appears to have been positive, as

the collective income of some 400 crafters rose from R2,000 to R50,000 within

five months of moving into the Numbi Gate complex (SANP 2000). Numbi Gate

is, however, distant from the Bushbuckridge woodworkers and they are much

12SAwoodcarving.p65 222 22/12/2004, 11:05