31 August 2006
No forests would mean more soil erosion. More loss of plants, and animals
and a disturbed ecosystem! No forests would also mean no production of
forestry-related products such as timber, paper, medicinal plants, and
others.
The existence of natural forests and the uses and benefits thereof, to
communities living around them, is of particular concern to the Department of
Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). So genuine is this concern, that the
department has called all stakeholders, communities, politicians in the Knysna
area, business, and all relevant institutions to exchange dialogue. This
dialogue takes the form of an event in a natural forest, and will afford all
attendees with the opportunity to explore and discuss the following key issues
affecting state forests in the Western Cape:
* accessibility of state forests and benefits of it to communities living
around them
* the eco-tourism and economic aspects of a state forest particularly focused
on the indigenous forests in the Southern Cape
* the issue of veld and forest fires will also be addressed at this event.
Veld and forest fires will be further discussed and deliberated at a Fire
Prevention and Management Seminar, to be held in Ganzekraal on 6 and 7
September 2006. The department saw the need to address this issue at a more
operational level; hence the seminar targets all spheres of government, i.e.
DWAF national, the directorate Municipal Infrastructure and Disaster Management
of the Provincial Department of Local Government and Housing, local government
and the private sector.
In addition to practical demonstrations such as methods used to combat veld
and forest fires as well as structural fires, the seminar will be addressing
the following:
* climate change and its effects on veld fires
* legal aspects involved in veld fires, as well as methods for investigating
wild fires
* to establish an integrated fire risk management mechanism for the Western
Cape.
Sustainable, good and healthy partnerships in the forestry sector is another
phenomenon to be celebrated during Arbor Week, as all partners will be
communicating a singular message during this campaign âPlant a tree, Grow our
futureâ, which is this yearâs theme.
Through partnerships with other institutions, the department will also be
encouraging and supporting âgreening initiativesâ for Arbor Week. Whilst some
established partners like the Stellenbosch Municipality will be launching an
arboretum/museum of oak trees, there is still a large concern and a need to
encourage poor and developing areas to plant trees. The department has further
distributed trees to institutions and facilitators to assist in greening
schools, poor communities and others.
All events in the Western Cape are available on the DWAF website, under
Arbor Week.
The media is invited to cover the main regional events in Knysna:
Venue: King Edward the 7th Big Tree, Diepvallei Forest Estate, Knysna
Date: 4 September 2006
Time: 10h00 â 14h00
Fire Prevention and Management Seminar
Venue: Ganzekraal
Dates: 6 to 7 September 2006
Enquiries:
Nandi Mgwadlamba
Western Cape Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Cell: 082 909 3493
Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
31 August 2006
Source: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (http://www.dwaf.gov.za)
