VolumeVolume 25, Issue 2 EconomicEconomic andand SocialSocial SignificanceSignificance of ForestsForrests FForor Africa'sAfrica's SSustainableusttainable DevelopmentDevelopment FAO REGIONALFAO RegionalOFFICE OfficeFOR for AFRICAAfrica Nature & Faune Enhancing natural resources management for food security in Africa Volume 25, Issue 2 Economic and social significance of forests for Africa’s sustainable development Editor: Foday Bojang Deputy Editor: Ada Ndeso-Atanga FAO Regional Office for Africa [email protected] http://www.fao.org/africa/publications/nature-and-faune-magazine/ FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Accra, Ghana 2011 Nature & Faune, Vol. 25, Issue 2 FAO REGIONALFAO RegionalOFFICE OfficeFOR for AFRICAAfrica BOARD OF REVIEWERS Christel Palmberg-Lerche Forest geneticist Rome, Italy Jean Prosper Koyo Renewable Natural Resources adviser Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo El Hadji M. Sène, Forest Resources Management & Dry Zone Forestry specialist Dakar, Senegal Douglas Williamson Wildlife specialist England, United Kingdom Fred Kafeero Natural Resources specialist Rome, Italy Jeffrey Sayer Ecologist/expert in political and economic context of natural resources conservation Cairns, N. Queensland, Australia August Temu Agroforestry adviser and leader in management of partnerships Nairobi, Kenya Sébastien Le Bel Wildlife specialist and scientist Montpellier, France Mafa Chipeta Food Security adviser Limbe, Malawi Advisers: Fernando Salinas, Atse Yapi, René Czudek The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to the Chief, Electronic Publishing Policy and Support Branch, Communication Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy or by e-mail to [email protected]. ©FAO 2011 Nature & Faune, Vol. 25, Issue 2 FAO REGIONALFAO RegionalOFFICE OfficeFOR for AFRICAAfrica Contents Message to Readers 1 Maria Helena Semedo Editorial Peter Rosa 3 Announcements 7 News 9 Special Feature 10 Economic and Social Significance of forests for Rwanda’s sustainable development Eunice Njoroge and Gregory Muli 10 Opinion Piece The last stand of mangrove forest ecosystems in south eastern Nigeria Mfon Udo, Blessing Oribhabor, Francis Nwosu, Utibe Daniel and Anthony Akpan 14 Articles Socio-economic and environmental significance of plantation forests in South Africa Rudzani Makhado and Amani Saidi 19 A review of the significance of non-timber forest products to rural livelihoods in Nigeria Folaranmi Babalola 25 The role of social capital in strengthening community based natural resources management in Zambia Vincent Nyirenda and Wilbroad Chansa 30 The first community forests of Gabon: towards sustainable local forest management? Meunier Quentin, Federspiel Michèle, Moumbogou Carl, Grégoire Bruno, Doucet Jean-Louis and Vermeulen Cédric 40 Promotion of forests and land governance by local communities: the experience of COFOR-International Joelle Brams and Jacques Plan 46 Nature & Faune, Vol. 25, Issue 2 FAO REGIONALFAO RegionalOFFICE OfficeFOR for AFRICAAfrica Sangha Tri-national landscape in the Congo basin: Socioeconomic dimensions of trans-boundary conservation area Chi Augustine Muam 50 Challenges of managing forest reserves: Case study of Atewa range forest reserve, Ghana. Jesse Ayivor , Christopher Gordon , James Adomako and Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu 56 Harvesting and commercialization of Gnetum spp for poverty alleviation and food security in Cameroon Julius Tieguhong, William Mala, Ousseynou Ndoye and Sophie Grouwels 64 Utilization of non-timber forest products for economic development in Nigeria Borokini Temitope Israel 68 Impact of mangrove forest destruction on the fisheries resources of the Niger Delta, Nigeria Blessing J. Oribhabor and Mfon T. Udo 72 Impact of laws and regulations on the use of non-wood forest products and the wellbeing of forest dependent communities in Central Africa Juliane Masuch, Ousseynou Ndoye, Julius Tieguhong, William Mala and Armand Zé 77 Country Focus: Lesotho Nchemo Maile 81 FAO Activities Forestry in improving food security and nutrition: FAO’s work in Africa Fred Kafeero, Gauthier Michelle, Grouwels Sophie, Steierer Florian, Berrahmouni Nora and Vantomme Paul 87 Links 93 Theme and Deadline for Next Issue 95 Guidelines for Authors, Subscription and Correspondence 96 Nature & Faune, Vol. 25, Issue 2 FAO REGIONALFAO RegionalOFFICE OfficeFOR for AFRICAAfrica the forest at the moment. How do world Message to Readers leaders deal realistically with the perceptions that non-forest lands are seen Maria Helena Semedo1 as having greater economic and social significance to the most directly affected stakeholders than forest lands? The editorial argues that many conservation policies in Africa discourage destructive entrepreneurial practices but do little to he year 2011 has been proclaimed the establish the requisite incentives for International Year of Forests (in brief entrepreneurs to use forest resources in a T“ Forests 2011”) and it is being productive, sustainable and ethical manner. celebrated under the theme “Forests for It concludes by asking how African People”. This is truly a remarkable governments can develop effective theme. One cannot come close to covering all partnerships with neighboring countries of it in a single edition of Nature & Faune as and international actors to invest in it addresses good management, infrastructure and to establish systems to conservation and sustainable development make legitimate ethical bio-prospecting of all types of forests2. Consequently, Nature rewarding, and bio-piracy costly and not & Faune magazine will contribute to this worth pursuing. celebration by dedicating all of the publications in 2011 to reflections and As you delve into the magazine, you will find activities related to “Forests 2011”. This first out where to obtain information on the issue examines the “Economic and social contribution of wildlife to national significance of forests for Africa’s economies and get a full comparison of the sustainable development”. prices of hunting tourism in southern and eastern Africa. It includes two technical You can read in these pages about efforts of reports published in a joint initiative of the African nations to sustainably manage their Food and Agriculture Organization of the forests. This issue explores management United Nations (FAO) and the International approaches that balance social, economic Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation and environmental objectives, allowing (CIC)3. users to reap the benefits of forest resources while conserving them to meet the needs of The regular feature Country Focus shines the future generations. Authors share cases and spotlight on Lesotho where less than 1% of experiences highlighting efforts of forest and the total land area of the nation is under natural resource managers to develop forest cover. Maile Nchemo describes innovative partnerships with new Lesotho’s efforts to celebrate the stakeholders outside the traditional forest International Year of the Forests 2011. The sector. In this context, the editorial by photos of activities at various levels of the Professor Peter Rosa focuses on the society take the message home - that despite entrepreneurship perspective of its scantiness, the patches of remaining socioeconomic significance of forests. Its indigenous trees and shrubs fulfill important message is that the basic honest socio-economic and ecological functions. In entrepreneurial pressures still do not favour Lesotho, the social worth of forests is rated very high. 1 Maria Helena Semedo, Assistant Director- General/Regional Representative for Africa, The special article features Eunice Joroge’s Regional Office for Africa, United Nations Food and Gregory Muli’s views on the and Agriculture Organization, P. O. Box 1628 Accra. Ghana. Tel: 233-302-675000 ext. 2704/ 233 302 7010 930 ext. 2704; fax: 233-302-668 427 3 http://www.cic-wildlife.org/?id=412 publications 2 http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/ n.7 and 8 Nature & Faune, Vol. 25, Issue 2 1 FAO REGIONALFAO RegionalOFFICE OfficeFOR for AFRICAAfrica socioeconomic value of forests in Rwanda Enjoy these articles and features, which are where wood for fuel and other uses are set within the context of International Year harvested from man-made forests, while of the Forests 2011. Thank you for your natural forests are protected. The Opinion interest and commitment to making the Piece presents the mangrove ecosystems in activities marking the celebration a veritable the south eastern Nigeria. On the menu are instrument to raise awareness on good eleven other