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South Africa Proposes New Forest Law

Environment News Service
21 July 1998

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 21, 1998 (ENS) - Draft legislation to revise South Africa's forestry laws was tabled in Parliament Monday. The National Forests Bill is intended to promote the sustainable management and development of forests.

It imposes a ban on the destruction of trees in any natural forest, but provides for the licensing of the destruction of trees in exceptional circumstances.

If the bill becomes law it will create a National Forests Advisory Council to advise the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry. The Council would be required to establish a permanent committee for sustainable forest management, and another government body to manage public access to forests.

According to a memorandum attached to the bill, it creates the conditions necessary to restructure forestry in state forests, provides special measures to protect certain forests and trees, and promotes community forestry.

In other government environmental news, a R50 million (US$7.9 million) project to boost the delivery of water and sanitation services in South Africa was launched in KwaNdebele, Mpumalanga, Monday, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry said.

Funded by the British Department for International Development, the project will transfer responsibility for delivery of water services from the national government to local authorities.

The money would be used for training for water services authorities, water service providers and communities, mainly in Northern Province and Mpumalanga.

A formal exchange of letters for the project was signed by British Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short, and South African Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Kader Asmal.