Chapter 3 Forestry sector in 2020

3.1.1 State of forests (indigenous forests/woodlands)

Botswana forests/woodlands are found on state-land, freehold and tribal land. The stocking situation on state-land in particular forest reserves is estimated at 10 million m³ (CFMP,1992). The total growing stock of all woodlands in the country has been estimated at 1,277,400 tonnes and the mean annual increment at 40.8million tones per annum. (CSO Environ. Statistic, 2000).

However, as mentioned earlier forest/woodland depletion particularly around major population centers and settlements has become a common occurrence in recent years in Botswana. Demand for wood products has increased considerably with increase in human populations and has been attributed an increase in demand for fuelwood, building and construction material, and expansion of arable agriculture. These factors coupled with rampant forest fires and adverse climatic conditions as well as the ever-increasing populations of both livestock and wild animals have contributed immensely towards woodland depletion. This trend is expected to continue and as a result, the land under forests/woodlands will also decrease. (CSO Environ. Statistics, 2000)

There has never been any mechanism in the past for bringing this country’s indigenous forest/woodland resources particularly those on communal areas under planned, sustainable, management by either communities and/or forest authority. As result there has led to the situation described above of overexploitation and instances of localized environmental degradation.

3.1.2. Plantations/Woodlots

At present the land under plantations and woodlots stands at 1200ha and it is expected to increase due to new afforestation programs funded by both government and donors to offset fuelwood shortages and other wood materials particularly around peri-urban and urban areas.

National Tree Planting program that is an annual event has also raised the level of awareness about the importance of tree planting and is envisaged to continue to play a major role in sensitizing and increasing our woody vegetation.

Despite these projections tree-planting programs will continue to face problems some of which are beyond their scope (e.g. marginal soils, limited species choice, and climatic limitations etc).

3.1.3. Non-wood forest products.

The Botswana woodlands/forests are blessed with a wide range of non-wood forest products ranging from medicinal, food, fodder, household fabrics, to even habitat for wild animals (e.g. Imbrasia belina, Harpagophytum procumbens, Lippia javnica, Artemesia afra, Lippia scaberriama, baskets, matts, bush meat, honey, silk cocoons etc). These products are the second biggest sources of the livelihood after agriculture to rural communities especially those in marginalized areas, as they generate alternative sources of income and hence improve their standard of living.

There is a great demand for these products both locally and outside. The Harpagohytum procumens has good market in Western Europe in particular Germany, while Imbrasia belina is widely consumed locally and in SouthAfrica. Coupled with population growth estimated at 2-5%, there is likely to be an increase in both the use and dependency on non-wood forest products due to commercialization. Further scientific investigations on other values are bound to increase the demand for these products.

3.1.4. Trees outside forests

Besides establishment of woodlots and plantations the government and other agencies have lately launched some programs that promote tree planting. These efforts are intended to reduce pressure on the natural woodlands, enhance environmental conservation, and increase food production through the planting of food-yielding and multi-purpose trees. Some of these programs include among others: backyard nurseries, around home tree planting program, schools tree planting program etc. These programs and many others promoting tree planting will inevitably increase trees outside forests.

3.1.5. Conservation of biodiversity

According to (World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 1991) Botswana has at least 2600 species of plants of which at least 17 are endemic, at least 150 species of mammals, over 500 species of birds, over 1000 species of insects and numerous species of reptiles and amphibians. To ensure sustainability of this level of biodiversity, about 39% of Botswana’s total land area has been reserved for conservation use. Areas under conservation include: national parks, Forest reserves, Game reserves, Wildlife management areas, wildlife sanctuaries and monuments.(CSO Environ. Statistics, 2000).

However just like in other parts of the world, decline in biodiversity has been observed in Botswana. The main contributing factors of the decline are believed to be rapidly expanding livestock and human populations, forest fires, droughts, diseases and cordon fences.

The government has put in place a number of measures in attempt to reverse this trend. These measures include: provision of water (drilling of boreholes), construction of firebreaks, establishing and anti-poaching unit, protecting wildlife migratory routes, formulating a National Conservation Strategy, reviewing existing various natural resource conservation laws, and establishment of National Plant Genetic Resources Centre etc. It is likely that the area under conservation will increase in the next 20 years because of improved level of awareness, increasing social, economic, and environmental benefits.

3.1.6. National parks, game reserves and forest reserves

3.1.6.1 National parks, game reserves

In Botswana there are five categories of protected areas namely; national parks, game reserves forest reserves, wildlife managements areas and natural history monuments. There are three national parks covering 45,900km². Acts such as hunting, collections of plants or animals are prohibited. The game reserves covers about 60,550km² and hunting without special permit is forbidden. Other wildlife areas under different managements include sanctuaries, nature reserves, small game parks, and wildlife management areas. The later are natural areas that are meant for multipurpose uses, the predominant one being wildlife utilization.

Wildlife is an important natural resource in Botswana. According to NDP8 theme of "sustainable economic diversification" this sector should present an alternative to the country’s dependence on minerals by way of tourism. Wildlife attracts visitors who view and hunt them for recreational and other purposes.

3.1.6.2 Forest reserves

Gazetted Forest Reserves cover an area of about 0.8% (455,000ha) of the country. They have been established specifically for the conservation and better regulation of use of forest resources.

Since the early 1930s government has been granting concession to companies to exploit timber in the forest reserves and was paid only royalties. The raw timber was exported to neighboring countries particularly South Africa and Zimbabwe. This arrangement was found not to be economically sustainable as the country was loosing revenue by not adding value to its timber resources.

Furthermore, there were also concerns that concessionaires were not observing the contractual agreements especially tree sizes to be harvested. There also were inadequate skilled personnel on the ground to monitor and supervise their activities. As a result of that, harvesting operations have since 1993 been suspended in the country pending inventories and adequate staffing to implement new management plans and supervise any future concessions.

However, it is likely that protected forest areas and land under plantations/woodlots will increase as a result of adoption of new integrated approach towards sustainable management of natural resources.

There are very few and small scale forest industries in Botswana, and they include: wood industry, handicraft industry, and seedling production industry.

3.2.1. Wood industry

Notwithstanding the country’s limited resources of commercial significance, the potentials offered by the existing vegetation for viable economic utilization have not been fully explored. The wood industries have in the past focused mainly on raw material exploitation and export without achieving value-added benefits through vertical and horizontal integration in processing and industrial development.

The tertiary industries involved in the manufacture of furniture and wood products currently do not have the raw in the material resource base to add value to. Most of them are concentrated on the import of semi-finished wood products from the region at an exorbitant price. The cutting of poles, live-trees for fuelwood on unreserved woodlands has been rampant without sustainable resource management.

Although the policy provided for the creation of forest industries dependent on wood resources, not much have been achieved. Hence in 1992 Government took a decision to suspend all timber operations in Botswana with the view to assess the stocking situation and identify other potential uses of our forests. As a result emphasis will now be placed on the development of value-added products, the economic residues, and the expansion of the utilization base.

3.2.2. Handicraft industry (wood-crafting and weaving)

This is one industry whose potentials have not yet been fully developed. The industry has potential to become alternative source of income for rural communities. Although basket weaving is currently doing well, the same thing cannot be said about wood crafting and other related woodwork. Foreigners dominate the wood crafting industry and local people have not yet realized its potential. To date very limited studies have been done to establish the economic potential of the industry, nevertheless the industry is likely to grow.

3.2.3. Seedling production industry.

This is another industry, which has a lot of potential in Botswana. Currently government dominates the industry. Few NGOs and private sector companies are involved in this industry. However, this is likely to change with more and more people getting involved in the backyard nursery program. The backyard nursery is a new program whereby farmers are encouraged to set up their own backyard nurseries as part of income generating activities. Recently there have been calls from some quarters for the phasing out of government nurseries to give room to the private sector and farmers as they cannot compete with Government subsidized seedlings. The revised forest policy has taken note of the concerns and it’s likely the government will revisit its nursery program.

3.2.4. Competitiveness and advantages

Forestry industries in Botswana are relatively small, weak and have difficulty to competing regionally. The wood industry in particular cannot compete because it does not have a strong base in terms of wood resources and technology to process the wood into finished goods. Other industries, though not fully explored, have comparative advantage locally.

Wood demand-supply situation

Industrial round and other products

The information on roundwood and other products is very scanty and unreliable. It will therefore be unrealistic to make any future projections without baseline information. The bulk of our industrial round wood is imported mainly from South Africa and Zimbabwe. However, it has to be said that as the population increases the demand for wood and wood products will obviously increase, and based on the current situation this would mean an increase in imports.

Woodfuel and other biomass based energy supply

Fuelwood remains the most dominant and accessible source of energy in Botswana. During the period 1981-1994 the share of fuelwood in the annual total of energy supply and demand has been estimated at 40%. The majority of our rural population still relies on woodfuel as the main source of energy. It is inevitable that the demand for fuelwood will continue to grow as conventional energy sources such as electricity; petroleum products and coal are not widely accessible and /or affordable.

The methods, patterns and effect of wood harvesting and collecting depend on location and the levels of supply, price and demand for alternative energy sources in specific locations. The regions with low population density and high rate re-growth and woodland density (e.g. north-eastern part of the country) have abundant fuelwood. Whilst in areas of higher population density and low regeneration rates (e.g. eastern part of the country especially around major population centers) localized over-exploitation is on the increase. (CSO Environ. Statistic, 2000).

The Government of Botswana has recently embarked on promoting the use of coal as substitute to fuelwood with the aim to reduce pressure on the natural woodland. The success rate of this program has been a modest one due to many factors some of which are cultural. Generally the people of this country are reluctant to switch to coal as because first, they are don’t have the right technology (stoves) to burn coal, the coal is of poor quality for home use, they have never used coal before, they don’t have easy access to it particularly the rural population, they think its expensive although it is heavily subsidized, and they are more comfortable with what they understand best and that is the use of fuelwood. Despite this Government has and continues to make efforts to promote the use of coal as an alternative to woodfuel. The government commitment is evidenced by the subsidy it has extended to the coal program. Perhaps other energy sources should be included in this program.

The contribution of forestry sub-sector towards the national economy has never been quantified in economic terms. This is because forests and woodland resources provide an essential foundation for other important sectors, such as livestock, tourism, and wildlife, and the complexity of these linkages makes quantification difficult. As a result these benefits are often grossly undervalued and under estimated.

However what is appreciated is that the forests and woodlands of this country provide numerous essential social, cultural, economic, ecological and environmental benefits many of which are fundamental to the well-being of the nation, both now and in the future. It is broadly appreciated that trees, forests and woodlands contribute to:

The improvement of food security and nutrition at household level (honey, fruits, game meat etc);

Meeting rural subsistence needs; building and construction materials, fuelwood, medicine

Generating income; handicraft materials, fruits etc

Agricultural productivity; fodder for livestock, forage and habitat for wild animals

Eco-tourism;

And finally protection of the environment; soil erosion control, conservation of watersheds, etc. (Draft National Forest Policy, 2000).

The most dependent on these resources are the poor in both rural and urban areas. This situation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

The launching of new forestry projects by both Government and Donors that promote income generations (e.g. eco-tourism, backyard nurseries, handicraft etc) is expected work towards improving the livelihood of the disadvantaged both in urban and rural areas.

3.4.1. Conservation of biodiversity

Conservation of biodiversity is still and will continue to be top of the list of government priorities especially given that the tourism industry is heavily dependent on it. Again as mentioned earlier government has put in place a lot of measures to conserve biodiversity as it recognizes its vitality not only to environmental protection but also its contribution to socio-economic development of Botswana.

3.4.2. Other protective values

All the above-mentioned protective functions are very important and government fully recognizes their role in protecting our fragile environment. It has to be understood that Botswana is a low forest cover country with semi-arid conditions and largely covered by marginal Kalahari sands. As a result the government has over the decade increased its spending on the conservation of biodiversity and promoting anti-desertification program. The combined efforts of the Government and the international donor assistance offer a window of opportunity towards fulfilling these functions.

3.5.1. Forestry and wildlife structures and functions.

The last time there was a departmental restructuring was in 1989 when forestry was elevated from a Unit to a Section. However, there is a widely held belief that the current status of Forestry is still not strong enough to fully and diligently fulfill its broader functions, hence there have lately been calls to upgrade it into a department or even a parastatal. The upgrading of Forestry Section into a much stronger institution than it is now is further supported by the recent consultancy report on the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture.

An all-embracing National Forest Policy is now waiting to go to parliament for consideration. The drafting of the National Forestry Action Plan and the review of the existing Forest Act that will support the implementation of the policy will follow this.

Besides there has been suggestions from various consultancies that it would conducive to have all natural resource based sectors under the same Ministry to avoid fragmentation and duplication of responsibilities. The suggestion to pool all natural resources based sectors under one ministry will also ensure optimum utilization of the limited available expertise and resources, and bring closer cooperation between these sectors. To date, it is still not clear as to whether the government will buy this idea or maintain the status quo.

As for the wildlife administration, it is already a Department within Ministry of Commence and Industry. The Wildlife Department is a high profile department enjoying a lot of support from both Government and Donors. With the growing tourism industry and its contribution towards the national economy, the Department is expected to remain stronger.

3.5.2. New roles of private sector and local communities in forest management

The revised forest policy encourages full participation of local communities in managing their forest resources around their own localities. The government is currently working towards establishing a mechanism that would bring most of our forest and woodland resources under planned, sustainable management by local communities and/or forest authority. This will ensure flow of benefits from these resources continues into the future.

The revised forest policy is also providing an enabling environment aimed at encouraging investment by the private sector in forestry. There are a lot of untapped potentials that the private is encouraged to explore (e.g. eco-tourism, research and marketing of non-wood forest products etc.).

3.5.3. New arrangements for forestry education and research

Although National Development Plan 8 provides for forestry research, no efforts to date have been made to start this program. It is still not clear as to when the program will start and by whom, because the Department of Integrated Agricultural Research has the mandate to coordinate all agricultural research in Botswana. The National Tree Seed Centre has meanwhile started some rudimentary research on seed propagation, selection, storage etc