12 May 2019

The long overdue forestry policy developed as a framework to provide guidance and facilitation in management of forests and range resources through conservation, development and sustainable use has been presented before relevant stakeholders.

Palapye Administration Authority deputy district commissioner Mr Odiseng Moruti said the forestry policy defines basic principles, strategies and action plans in the sustainable utilisation of the resources to meet the social, cultural, economic, environmental and ecological needs of the present and future generations.

He said such represent a statements of intent by government set out as part of its overall vision for forestry.He said the policy was motivated by the decline in the forest and woodland cover mainly due unsustainable utilisation, unpredictable weather conditions as a result of climate change and frequent wild fires.

The deputy district commissioner said the optimum contribution of the forestry policy emphasises the development of the National Forest Programme, which is supposed to have been developed in order to implement the policy.

“The National Forestry Programme development needs all stakeholders to play a major role in its implementation with combination of Forest Policy and Forest Bill that can allow a good delivery by the department of Forestry and Range Resources,” he said.

The focus of the workshop was to lay out strategic vision and purpose for the future of forestry in the country and to formulate a national agreed framework on sustainable forest management, which will form the main reference for government, private sector, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders in the implementation of sustainable forest management.

This was also to ensure visibility, integration and recognition of the forest sector and broaden the scope for forest-related solutions.

“That is why it needs a broad and diverse range of key stakeholders from various organisations to deliberate on the initial identification of priority issues on forestry and the identification of critical strategic direction for the future development of the forest sector, which will be based on inputs from them,” he said.

Dr Joyce Lepetu, national consultant emphasised the importance of participation and contributions to the concept of sustainable forest management and background on national forestry programme by stakeholders who took part in the workshop.

Another speaker, Mr Raffle Nickerson also emphasised re-plant within the hardveld, the overgrazed bush or at least encourage a programme of tree planting such as fruit trees and even indigenes ones.
ENDS