Informal forest product harvesting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: A recent assessment

Abstract

Forest management in many developing nations aims to balance the needs of resource users and the ecological integrity of indigenous forests, in terms of both biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, particularly carbon sequestration. While South Africa has legislated management policies to achieve this, implementation has been lacking, resulting in concern that unregulated resource use is compromising forest biodiversity. However, there is little information regarding resource use since these regulations were promulgated a decade ago. This study reports on the current nature and extent of forest product harvesting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, which contains just under half of the country's indigenous forests. Extraction rates and target species of key products, namely poles, timber and bark, were assessed across six forests, representing five forest types. Harvest intensities indicated low to moderate levels of use, but there was considerable variation in levels of resource use at the forest-scale, illustrating the importance of site-specific assessments. Furthermore, resource use was species-specific, indicating that sustainability is dependent on the ecology of preferred species. Of concern was widespread commercial-scale bark harvesting; and relatively high timber extraction from a Pondoland scarp forest, a threatened forest type. We urge implementation of existing regulations, which distinguish between subsistence and commercial use; and commensurate capacitation of the new Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. In the case of timber and bark, we recommend licencing of the de facto commercial harvesting taking place in order to promote regulation.