Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
27 NOVEMBER 1995
Prof Kader Asmal, MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, opened the forestry section of the Tenth Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations in Hazyview today. Forty five member nations and four observer countries are attending the five day long working session.
The purpose of the meeting is to advise on the formulation of African forest policy and to review and co-ordinate its implementation at te regional level. It is a forum where information is exchanged also on suitable practices and actions with regard to technical problems. Where appropriate recommendations are made to the FAO in relation to the foregoing.
The African delegates will be discussing matters such as criteria and indications for sustainable forest management for Africa and investment in forestry in Africa. Natural progress reports will be tabled on the state of forestry in the region and forestry activities and operations reviewed.
Professor Asmal said: "The challenges that we face as a continent are enormous. Water scarcity, deforestation, poverty, hunger, lack of education still dominate our countries. We must harness all our forces in a creative and co-operative movement towards equity, the fulfillment of basic human needs, and sustainable living. I hope that the work of this Commission on Forestry and Wildlife will contribute towards taking us down that path. He cautioned that Africa should work on local benefication of natural resources rather than falling into the north-south economic trap of exporting raw materials and buying back finished goods from the developed countries. South Africa can learn much from its colleagues northwards in Africa."
Forestry in South Africa deals with indigenous forest and savannah woodlands, commercial plantations, the industries they support and community forestry and its social and environmental impacts on society.
This was the second major regional conference hosted by Professor Asmal in a week. Last week a conference of SADC with Ministers for Water Resources discussed the potential for cross border co-operation and regional planning in relation to water.
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