Private sector community forestry partnerships in the Eastern Cape – The Manubi woodlot case study

Abstract

In line with policy changes in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), the Manubi forest and woodlot has been declared a Primary Conservation Area and responsibility for management has been transferred to its Conservation directorate. While plans are underway to transfer ownership, control and management of most woodlots to local communities through a process referred to as ‘devolution’, woodlots that fall within primary conservation areas will remain under DWAF control. In these cases opportunities for joint management will be investigated. The Manubi woodlot falls within a primary conservation area, so will not undergo devolution but the possibility of joint management does exist. The brief given to the authors was to draw up a situational analysis of Manubi forest to assess the potential for joint management. A major focus of the research was to identify the main role players, and assess use of and attitudes towards the forests and the relationships between the various role players. The fieldwork was undertaken in April 2000