Economic and financial aspects of leasing state forest land

The Government of South Africa has a major holding of forest land, with a total estate

covering 892,000 ha of forest and associated land. Within the state's forest holding there is a

wide diversity of forest and land types including: commercial plantations and other afforested

land; indigenous forests; legally protected (indigenous) forest areas; and associated bare land.

This land is partly owned by the state and partly held on behalf of local communities, some of

whom also have existing rights to use the forest land for various purposes. The Government

of South Africa is planning to withdraw from direct involvement in the forest sector and is

currently considering options to involve the private-sector in the management of this

resource.