KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Forestry in Swaziland
Swaziland is one of the countries in Africa which has developed a major softwood, timber industry. It is a country where great efforts were made to create forests through afforestation, because it has very little natural forest. Now three artificial forests two of pine, and an area of eucalyptus are the result and together cover about 100, 000 ha.
Prior to afforestation, much of the land was poor quality grass (Veld) used for sheep rearing with pockets of better soil being occasionally cultivated. The land suffered frequent burning and, in places , was prone to soil erosion which was damaging to the environment
Since 1940, however, much afforestation has been undertaken. The Usutu forest, southwest of Mbabane, the capital, is the largest man-made forest. It occupies an area of 55,000 hectares and extends for many kilometres either side of the Usutu river near the town of Bhunya. The Piggs peak timber forest in the north-west was the first artificial softwood forest to be established in Swaziland. It covers an area of over 32,000 ha. The most recently established artificial forests consisting of over 12,000 ha of eucalyptus, is the Nhlangano forest on the south-west.
The Swazi government and the Commonwealth Development Corporation have financed these afforestation projects.
Prior to afforestation, much of the land was poor quality grass (Veld) used for sheep rearing with pockets of better soil being occasionally cultivated. The land suffered frequent burning and, in places , was prone to soil erosion which was damaging to the environment
Since 1940, however, much afforestation has been undertaken. The Usutu forest, southwest of Mbabane, the capital, is the largest man-made forest. It occupies an area of 55,000 hectares and extends for many kilometres either side of the Usutu river near the town of Bhunya. The Piggs peak timber forest in the north-west was the first artificial softwood forest to be established in Swaziland. It covers an area of over 32,000 ha. The most recently established artificial forests consisting of over 12,000 ha of eucalyptus, is the Nhlangano forest on the south-west.
The Swazi government and the Commonwealth Development Corporation have financed these afforestation projects.