Upcoming Projects

1. Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Tree Fruits in the Semi-Arid Areas of the SADC Region

The diverse range of forest types in SADC entails the availability of a wide range of forest products. Socio-economic studies carried out in most Member States show that indigenous tree fruits improve rural livelihoods by guaranteeing food security and generating income through sales of fruits and fruit products. As deforestation continues at approximately 1.8% per year, there is the danger of genetic erosion as most of the seeds are often utilized as well.

The project therefore seeks to increase the contribution of forestry to food security, nutrition, incomes and to reduce genetic erosion of indigenous fruit trees through sustainable harvesting, domestication and commercialization of the fruits. The Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) approved the project and mobilization of the relevant funds is in progress.

2. Other Projects Under Consideration

The following projects have already had baseline studies and await approval and funding:

• Agroforestry Research for the Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of SADC
  The goal of this project is to improve food security for smallholder farmers by increasing productivity through agroforestry interventions in view of the limited access and affordability of mineral fertilizers.
• Regional Forestry Inventory
  The objective of this project is to develop an extensive inventory of the region's forest resources, which includes vegetation mapping suitable for macro level planning and monitoring of the resource base.
• Tree Insect Pests and Disease Management
  The SADC region has experienced serious forest losses largely due to unmonitored and uncontrolled insect pests and diseases on both exotic and natural forests. Insect pests such as conifer aphids (mainly Eulachnus rileyi and Pineus boerneri) and pine sawfly (Sirex sp) and soil borne pathogens like Armillaria melea have caused heavy losses in industrial plantations. An integrated regional monitoring system, which allows risk assessment and forecasts of outbreaks to be carried out is therefore necessary.

Upcoming activities

1. Ratification of the Protocol on Forestry

The Forestry Protocol was signed in October 2002 by Heads of State and Governments but has not yet been ratified. Three Member States have so far submitted their ratification instruments to the Secretariat and six more are required for the Protocol to enter into force. This issue will be discussed at the 23rd Technical Committee for Forestry Meeting scheduled for the end of May 2004 in order to speed up the ratification process.

The Protocol on Forestry is available in English and Portuguese and translation into French is in progress. Hard copies can be obtained from the SADC Secretariat and the electronic version can be printed directly from the SADC website www.sadc.int

2. 23^rd Technical Committee for Forestry Meeting

The SADC Secretariat in cooperation with the Government of Swaziland are organising the Annual Technical Committee for Forestry meeting of Directors of Forestry Services in the SADC region. The meeting will be held in Swaziland on 27-28 May 2004 and is expected to discuss and clear relevant regional forestry issues for approval by the next ICM meeting.