A case study assessment of socio-economic sustainability and alternative management regimes for state forest plantations in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Assessing the socio-economic sustainability of small scale forest plantations provides the basis for monitoring compliance with sustainable forest management principles and prescription of appropriate interventions. Considering that state forest plantations in South Africa have been scheduled for transfer to community-based entities, determination of the potential of alternative forest management types is vital. This study therefore assessed the socio-economic sustainability of current forest management strategies in state forest plantations at Gaba and Rossbach in Limpopo Province of South Africa. It also determined the potential of alternative forest management regimes using perceptions of local communities. Summated rating scales principles were applied by using likert scaling to acquire the perceptions of local communities through scoring of indicators and verifiers. While the local community for Rossbach forest plantation was content with all indicators of socio-economic sustainability, the local community for Gaba was discontent with provision of products and the forest plantation‟s contribution to their livelihoods. Both communities perceived joint forest management to be the optimal forest management regime across all indicators while expressing total lack of confidence in managing the forest plantations communally. Optimal socio-economic sustainability in the post-transfers era can be achieved through joint decision-making and formalized sharing of responsibilities and benefits between the communities and government.