Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A case study assessment of socio-economic sustainability and alternative management regimes for state forest plantations in Limpopo Province, South Africa

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Assessing the socio-economic sustainability of small scale forest plantations provides the basis for monitoring compliance with sustainable forest management principles and prescription of appropriate interventions. Considering that state forest plantations in South Africa have been scheduled for transfer to community-based entities, determination of the potential of alternative forest management types is vital. This study therefore assessed the socio-economic sustainability of current forest management strategies in state forest plantations at Gaba and Rossbach in Limpopo Province of South Africa. It also determined the potential of alternative forest management regimes using perceptions of local communities. Summated rating scales principles were applied by using likert scaling to acquire the perceptions of local communities through scoring of indicators and verifiers. While the local community for Rossbach forest plantation was content with all indicators of socio-economic sustainability, the local community for Gaba was discontent with provision of products and the forest plantation’s contribution to their livelihoods. Both communities perceived joint forest management to be the optimal forest management regime across all indicators while expressing total lack of confidence in managing the forest plantations communally. Optimal socio-economic sustainability in the post-transfers era can be achieved through joint decision-making and formalized sharing of responsibilities and benefits between the communities and government.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The South African Rand to US$ exchange rate used was 0.083 on 14 July 2015.

References

  • Andrew M, Fabricius C, Timmermans H (2000) An overview of private sector community partnerships in forestry and other natural resources in Eastern Cape. Instruments for sustainable private sector forestry, South Africa series. International Institute for Environment and Development and CSIR-Environmentek, London and Pretoria. http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/bitstream/10204/2493/1/Andrew_2000.pdf. Accessed 10 Jan 2012

  • Babbie E, Mouton J (2001) The practice of social research. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey KD (1994) Methods of social research, 4th edn. The Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Balana BB, Mathijs E, Muys B (2010) Assessing the sustainability of forest management: an application of multi-criteria decision analysis to community forests in northern Ethiopia. J Environ Manag 91(6):1294–1304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barber JS, Shivakoti GP, Axinn WG, Gajurel K (1997) Sampling strategies for rural settings: a detailed example from Chitwan valley family study, Nepal. Nepal Popul J 6(5):193–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Behera B (2009) Explaining the performance of state-community joint forest management in India. Ecol Econ 69(1):177–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya P, Pradhan L, Yadar G (2010) Joint forest management in India: experiences of two decades. Resour Conserv Recycl 54(8):469–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bless C, Kathuria R (1993) Fundamentals of social statistics: an African perspective. Jutta and Co Ltd, Cape Town

    Google Scholar 

  • Charnley S (2005) Industrial plantation forestry: do local communities benefit? J Sustain For 21(4):35–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CIFOR (1999) The CIFOR criteria and indicators generic template. The criteria and indicators toolbox series no 2. CIFOR, Jakarta. http://www.cifor.org/publications/pdf_files/CI/toolbox-2c.pdf. Accessed 22 Jan 2013

  • Cocks M, Matsiliza B, Fabricius C (2000) Private-sector community forestry partnerships in the Eastern Cape: Longweni woodlot case study. Instruments for sustainable private sector forestry, South Africa series. International Institute for Environment and Development and CSIR-Environmentek, London and Pretoria. http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/bitstream/10204/2495/1/Cocks_2000.pdf. Accessed 14 March 2012

  • Cramer D (1998) Fundamental statistics for social research: step by step calculation and computer techniques using SPSS for Windows. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • DAFF (2013) Strategic plan for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2013/14-2017/18. DAFF, Pretoria. www.daff.gov.za/doaDev/…/DAFF%20Strategic%20Plan%202013.pdf. Accessed 17 June 2015

  • DAFF (2014) Annual report 2013/14.Vote 26. DAFF, Pretoria. www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/…/DAFF_Annual_Report_2013-2014.pdf. Accessed 02 July 2015

  • Dare ML, Vaclay F, Schirmer J (2012) Public participation in commercial environments: critical reflections on community engagement methods used in the Australian plantation forestry industry. Austral For 75(3):180–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Datta C, Chatterjee D (2012) Assessment of community-based initiatives in sustainable management of Indian dry deciduous forests. Int J Sustain Dev World 19(2):155–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desselle SP (2005) Construction, implementation, and analysis of summated rating attitude scales. Am J Pharm Educ 69(5):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devereux S (1992) Learning the language and counting the people in Ghana. In: Devereux S, Hoddinott J (eds) Fieldwork in developing countries. Harvester Wheatsheaf, London, pp 43–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Djamhuri TL (2012) The effect of incentive structure to community participation in a social forestry program on state forest land in Blora district, Indonesia. For Policy Econ 25:10–18. doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2012.02.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) (2004) Key issue paper for a policy on transfers of state owned industrial plantations. http://www2.dwaf.gov.za/dwaf/cmsdocs/Elsa/Docs/Transfers/KIP%20Policy%20on%20Transfers%202004.pdf. Accessed 20 Jan 2013

  • DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) (2005) Forestry change programme: business process analysis report. Forestry transfers process version 5.0. DWAF, Pretoria. http://www2.dwaf.gov.za/dwaf/cmsdocs/Elsa/Docs/Transfers/Business%20Process%20Analysis%20Report%20Transfers%202005.pdf. Accessed 20 Oct 2012

  • DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) (2008) The National Forests Act, 1998 (Act no. 84 of 1998): draft regulations on principles, criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management. Government Gazette no 31171, Notice 792. DWAF, Pretoria. www.gov.za/documents/download.php?f=83934. Accessed 18 April 2013

  • Evans J (1998) Community/forestry relationships in South Africa’s communal areas: tenurial challenges for community. In: Barry M, Kruger G (eds) Proceedings of the international conference on land tenure in the developing world with a focus on southern Africa, 27–29 January 1998. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, pp 264–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Fakayode SB, Rahji MAY, Adeniyi ST (2012) Economic analysis of risks in fruit and vegetable farming in Osun state, Nigeria. Bangladesh J Agric Res 37(3):473–491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FSC (2012) Revised FSC principles and criteria for forest stewardship. FSC-std-01-001 (v5-0) EN. https://ic.fsc.org/download.fsc-std-01-001-v5-0-revised-principles-and-criteria-for-forest-stewardship.a-871.pdf. Accessed 4 Jan 2013

  • Gordon M, Schirmer J, Lockwood M, Vanclay F, Hanson D (2013) Being good neighbours: current practices, barriers, and opportunities for community engagement in Australian plantation forestry. Land Use Policy 34:62–71. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2013.02.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gugushe NM, Grundy IM, Theron F, Chirwa PW (2008) Perceptions of forest resource use and management in two village communities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. South For 70(3):247–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall D (2003) The international political ecology of industrial shrimp aquaculture and industrial plantation forestry in southeast Asia. J Southeast Asian Stud 34(2):251–264. doi:10.1017/S0022463403000249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ham C (2000a) Background study on the woodlots in the Eastern Cape Province, with special emphasis on the woodlots in the Butterworth area. Research report no. UST 5/97. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria

  • Ham C (2000b) The importance of woodlots to local communities, small-scale entrepreneurs and indigenous forest conservation-a case study. Instruments for sustainable private sector forestry, South Africa series. International Institute for Environment and Development and CSIR-Environmentek, London and Pretoria. http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/bitstream/10204/2498/1/Ham_2000.pdf?origin=publication_detail. Accessed 26 Nov 2011

  • Ham C, Chirwa P (2008) Forest resource use in southern Africa. In: Masters L, Kisiangani E (eds) Natural resources governance in southern Africa. Africa Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, pp 67–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Ham C, Theron JM (1999) Community forestry and woodlot development in South Africa: the past, present and future. S Afr For J 184(1):71–79. doi:10.1080/10295925.1999.9631214

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard M, Matikinca P, Mitchell D, Brown F, Lewis F, Mahlangu I, Msimang A, Nixon P, Radebe T (2005) Small-scale timber production in South Africa: what role in reducing poverty? Fractal Forest Africa, Fakisandla Consulting, Institute of Natural Resources, Rural Forest Management CC, South Africa, and International Institute for Environment and Development, London and Pretoria. http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/9559IIED.pdf. Accessed 18 February 2014

  • ITTO (2005) Revised ITTO criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of tropical forests including reporting format. ITTO Policy Development Series No. 15. www.itto.int/direct/topics/…/topics_id=9630000&no=1&disp=inline. Accessed 19 September 2013

  • Khadka C, Vacik H (2012) Use of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) for supporting community forest management. iForest 5:60–71. doi:10.3832/ifor0608-00

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Martin P (2010) Composite rating scales. J Neurol Sci 289(1–2):7–11. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2009.08.013

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mattson DE (1986) Statistics: difficult concepts, understandable explanations. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc, Wauconda

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayers J (2006) Poverty reduction through commercial forestry: what evidence? What prospects? The Forests Dialogue research paper, A TFD Publication No. 2. Yale University School of Forestry and Environment Studies, New Haven. http://theforestsdialogue.org/sites/default/files/mayers_poverty_publication.pdf. Accessed 10 April 2013

  • Monnette DR, Sullivan TJ, Dejong CR, Hilton TP (2014) Applied social research: tool for the human services, 9th edn. Brooks/Cole Publishing, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Muhammed N, Haque F, Koike M (2008) The role of participatory social forestry in the enhancementof the socio-economic condition of the rural poor: a case study of Dhaka forest division in Bangladesh. For Trees Livelihoods 19(4):47–67. doi:10.1080/14728028.2008.9752646

    Google Scholar 

  • Nachmias D, Frankfort-Nachmias C (1992) Research methods in the social sciences, 4th edn. St Martin’s Press Inc, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Obiri JAF, Lawes MJ (2002) Attitudes of coastal-forest users in Eastern Cape Province to management options arising from new South African forest policies. Environ Conserv 29(4):519–529. doi:10.1017/S0376892902000371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oses-Eraso N, Viladrich-Grau M (2007) On the sustainability of common property resources. J Environ Econ Manag 53(3):393–410. doi:10.1016/j.jeem.2006.10.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pokharel RK (2012) Factors influencing the management regimes of Nepal’s community forestry. For Policy Econ 17:13–17. doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2011.08.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson J, Lawes MJ (2005) User perceptions of conservation and participatory management of Gxalingenwa forest, South Africa. Environ Conserv 32(1):64–75. doi:10.1017/S0376892905001979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogerson CM (2001) In search of the African miracle: debates on successful small enterprise development in Africa. Habitat Int 25:115–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohatgi VK (1984) Statistical inference. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarantakos S (1998) Social research, 2nd edn. Palgrave Macmillan Limited, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schirmer J, Tonts M (2003) Plantations and sustainable rural communities. Austral For 66(1):67–74. doi:10.1080/00049158.2003.10674892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scotcher J, Everard D (2001) Review of sustainable forest management criteria and indicators. S Afr For J 192(1):1–2. doi:10.1080/20702620.2001.10434127

    Google Scholar 

  • Shackleton C, Shackleton S (2004) The importance of non-timber forest products in rural livelihood security and as safety nets: a review of evidence from South Africa. S Afr J Sci 100:658–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikhitha ME (1999) A survey of the conservation attitudes of the rural communities surrounding Thathe forest, Northern Province. Dissertation, University of Natal

  • SSA (Statistics South Africa) (2014) Census 2011 community profiles

  • Tewari DD, Isemonger AG (1998) Joint forest management in South Gujarat, India: a case of successful community development. Community Dev J 33(1):32–40. doi:10.1093/cdj/33.1.32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoms CA (2008) Community control of resources and the challenges of improving local livelihoods: a critical examination of community forestry in Nepal. Geoforum 39(3):1452–1465. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2008.01.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UN (United Nations) (2008). Non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests. UN Resolution A/RES/62/98. http://www.un.org/en/ga/62/resolutions.shtml. Accessed 8 July 2015

  • Wolfslehner B, Vacik H, Lexer MJ (2005) Application of the analytic network process in multi-criteria analysis of sustainable forest management. Forest Ecol Manag 207(1–2):157–170. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.10.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Our appreciation goes to the South African Forestry Company Limited (SAFCOL) through the University of Pretoria and the University of Venda for the financial support provided for conducting the study and to DAFF Forestry and Natural Resources Management Limpopo/Mpumalanga staff for allowing us access to the forest plantations as well as the valuable information they provided.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Precious Munyanduki.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Munyanduki, P., Chirwa, P.W. & Babalola, F.D. A case study assessment of socio-economic sustainability and alternative management regimes for state forest plantations in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Agroforest Syst 90, 675–689 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9842-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9842-6

Keywords

Navigation