Indigenous forests and woodlands in South Africa : policy, people and practice /

This work is a notable addition to the literature on natural resource policy in developing countries. Part 1 sets the general background of policy and ecology of South African forests and woodlands, establishing the many differences between forests and woodlands. Part 2 describes values and valuation. The remaining six parts discuss specific uses, ranging from traditional timber harvesting to woodcarving, food (including mopane worms and woodland grasshoppers), carbon storage, and ecotourism. Most chapters broadly treat topics from a national perspective and then reinforce the main ideas with detailed information from specific research projects. The book's great strength is the discussion of policy goals and analysis of the actual on-the-ground implementation: what works, what does not, and why? These become critical questions as South Africa blends participatory management and new types of institutional control of forests and woodlands with applied research, traditional management and policy, and a long history of complex natural resource tenure and ownership. Scholars, students, and practitioners can all learn from this book. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above. B. D. Orr Michigan Technological University