Sustainable forest standards in relation to small timber growers: lessons from KwaZulu Natal

This policy paper sets out the relevance of social and environmental standards for small-scale timber growers. It focuses on the development of the National Forest Standards currently being developed by the South African Government .

The paper points out that the significance of small-scale timber growers in South Africa is likely to grow: Approximately one third of its timber production in the near future may be derived from small growers.  A key concern for growers is access to markets, especially where growers are not members of out-grower schemes or marketing cooperatives. Nevertheless, the potential for income generation through forestry, despite the risks, is such that there are an ever increasing number of new small growers entering forestry.

Key policy conclusions highlighted include:

• International and national forest standards have the potential to exclude small-scale timber growers from markets, but this outcome is not inevitable
• small-scale growers should be involved in the process of designing standards to ensure they are not excluded
• many criteria for sustainable forest management do not make sense at the individual small grower level and it is necessary to identify an appropriate local institutional level at which they can be applied.
• if small grower communities are to have a realistic chance of meeting standards and thereby contribute to sustainable forest management, direct assistance is required to develop co-operatives and build capacity and appropriate training to increase growers’ awareness of forest standards.