Summary

This book represents a defining synthesis of the use and socio-economic value of timber and non-timber resources from indigenous forests and woodlands in South Africa. It provides an up-to-date review of current research and thinking on policies and practices affecting these two biomes. Since 1994, there has been a paradigm shift in the approach to the management of forest and woodland resources, with a move away from former "preservationist" policies and an increased emphasis on the sustainable extractive use of natural resources, particularly by rural communities. A growing recognition of the potential value that these resources hold for local economies and livelihoods has been accompanied by the restructuring of national institutions governing forests and woodlands, and a number of new policies for integrated management.