Natural resource harvesting still plays an important role in the economy of southern Africa. In Mozambique, the continuous exploitation of the most valuable components of the indigenous woodlands in locations such as the Catuane Administrative Post in Matutuine District, have put pressure on the natural resources so that concern has motivated this research in order to guide such actions in support of sustainable use. This was a preliminary study, the intention being to establish: • what are the necessary environmental conditions for the sustainability of silviculture? • which species may be candidates for cultivation? • whether local people would support cultivation of trees for charcoal and woodfuel; and • what the attitude of government and non-government organizations was to tree cultivation.? The research approach taken in this study was qualitative, relying on interviews, reviewing literature and documentary analysis. Respondents were drawn from different categories such as the local communities of the study area, experts in silviculture, government officials and NGO employees. The study shows that environmental conditions are harsh and are not particularly favourable for the cultivation of trees. Nevertheless, a review of information on the requirements and properties of woody species indicates that there . are candidate species that could be considered for cultivation, but productivity is likely to be low. Although there is some support for cultivation of trees, motivation is weak and strong extension support will be required to achieve success. The findings show, however that whilst there is policy support it is not accompanied by support on the ground. It is suggested that this reflects failure to appreciate the value of co-operative management and suggestions are made as to how these can be improved. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

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In southern Zululand in the province of KwaZulu-Natal within the iNkandla Magisterial District, a rural area, lies the indigenous iNkandla forest. This is the last remaining rare relict type of indigenous high wet rain forest in Southern Africa. This forest is of great importance not only for its unique biodiversity, its perennial source of water, but also as a resource base for the Cube people. This remote community lives mostly a traditional Zulu lifestyle in an area devoid of basic infrastructure, municipal services or economic activity. The Cube people are reliant on the forest resources for some of their daily basic material needs. This dissertation is an examination of the relationship between the Cube people and the iNkandla forest over time. The study investigates the ecology and biodiversity of the iNkandla forest. It also describes the Cube people's lifestyle, history and the continuous utilisation of the forest resources. The core focus of the study is that the iNkandla forest is not only an integral part of the Cube people's lives, but also has a rich cultural history. The research findings show that the daily activities of the Cube are impacting heavily on the forest resources. In order to minimise negative environmental impacts, sustainable utilisation of these resources needs to be established. This can enhance the relationship between the Cube people and the forest. The people's view of the forest and its change with time is investigated. The goods and services this forest provides to meet people's basic material needs portrays the relationship between the people and the forest. To sustain this relationship a model that illustrates a process that can be established and implemented effectively is recommended. This process will empower the Cube people to make constructive and effective choices and decisions. It will also inform the people of the sustainable ways of utilising the forest resources and enhance their relationship with the natural resources. The aim is to promote future developments that the Cube people are likely to see in future. This will inform their understanding of sustainable utilisation of the forest resources for future generations. Empowered people will recognise social principles for appropriate interactions with nature. The final part in this study revisits the theory of environmental history. It outlines briefly the manner in which the environmental history theory has been applied. It also explains the reason why the principles of environmental history have been adopted for this study. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002

World perceptions are culturally determined, manifested in different cultural patterns of behaviour and in relationships between humans and their natural environments. Resource use and management reflect the values and priorities of a specific society. Conflicts may arise when different societies, with divergent attitudes and relationships with the land, are competing for resources. Cultural geographers and moral philosophers have explored ideas pertinent to such conflicts. A native community in Quebec's commercial forest area presents opportunity for an applied ethical inquiry into resource management: addressing the conflicting traditional and contemporary patterns of forest use of native and non-native groups. Yi-Fu Tuan and Paul W. Taylor explore issues of space, respect, and resource use, substantiating the assertion that cross-cultural resource conflict resolution necessitates moral inquiry. Taylor's six point value concept categorization is applied to show the perceptual differences between the groups, thereby affecting an assessment of the ethical roots and dimensions of the conflict.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 310-330) / Microfiche. / xiii, 330 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

This research which makes reference to Sappi South Africa is grounded in a South African context, within the forestry industry. The aims of the study are to- 1. Provide a description of corporate social investment (in a Sappi/ South African context) from a theoretical, corporate and legislative perspective which will describe current Sappi CSI activity, its implementation, measurement and the driving force behind them. 2. To articulate a sound understanding without judgement of the current status of corporate social investment based upon the application of (1) above. 3. To position Sappi’s CSI approach on a macro government/ corporate power scale which will facilitate rich understanding concerning the long term sustainability of Sappi’s CSI approach on the corporation, the forestry industry and the South African economy. 4. To distill a consensual interpretation that is more informed and sophisticated than previous constructions within Sappi Forest Products Division. The qualitative research is descriptive. A single case-study method has been adopted. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as a late twentieth-century American movement, is a modern manifestation of an ancient debate amongst philosophers and theologians in many lands and cultures about the morality of commerce itself (Hood, 1996). Friedman (1962) quoted in Anshen (1980:10) argues that business should not and must not deviate from its profit orientation and that it should be concerned only with its economic performance. Friedman supported the notion ‘the business of business is business’ and adds, as quoted in Smith (1990:60), that to suggest corporations should have a social responsibility is to fail to understand the way in which the market is and must be played and asks, ‘if business does have a social responsibility other than making profits for shareholders, how are they to know what it is? Frederick et al, (1998:36) argue that Corporate Social Responsibility balances power with responsibility, responds to public needs and expectations and can contribute to correcting societal imbalances implicit in most economies. Smith (1990:89) suggests that the social control of business is achieved by either virtue of moral obligation, market forces and legislation, or, manipulation, inducement and force. Beesley and Evans (1978) quoted in Smith (1990:54) note ‘there is recognition of the growth of corporate power and the consequent perception of relative shift from government to companies as the source of social improvement and the means to promote specific items of social welfare.’ On this basis it may therefore be concluded that societal responsibilities should be shared between government and business, and in this way power balanced and a healthy pluralistic state developed. The vision of Sappi’s Corporate Social Investment program is to be instrumental in empowering and creating opportunities for both personnel and their dependent communities in order to address their self-defined needs. Sappi’s CSI activity is concentrated on education and community development, environmental preservation and conservation, social welfare and arts and culture. CSI practices are driven by morality, enlightened self-interest and by the South African Government. If the corporation had only started trading in 2005 would the CSI vision be driven by the same ‘gears’, or would the moral obligation and enlightened self-interest become less apparent? It is recommended that the Sappi CSI initiative must embrace CSI and uplift it to the next level by implementing the change management process, outsourcing at least the rural CSI initiative and expanding into a more brand orientated CSI strategy. Sappi also needs to make strategic CSI alliances with other organizations.

The fundamental objective of this research is to design and propose an appropriate community benefit model that can be implemented by a forestry company in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. De Beer, Rutsch and Eliffe (1998) describe community benefits as a collection of social and economic opportunities through which people are able to improve the quality of their lives or the lives of others. This study proposes a model that can be implemented in a manner that is mutually beneficial to the forestry company concerned and its community stakeholders.

Please read the abstract in the front section of this document / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Sustainable Ecological Management))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

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