Chapter 5: Analysis of Results
5.8 Threats to the Ntabamhlophe Indigenous Forest
The following were regarded as the major pressures or threats affecting the state of the Ntabamhlophe forest (Appendix 1, section D, question 4.3):
• Uncontrolled fires (three focus groups).
• Uncontrolled harvesting of medicinal plants and fuelwood (three focus groups).
• Deforestation (clearing of forest for the cultivation of vegetable crops and Cannabis sativa) (two focus groups).
• Illegal hunting (one focus group).
• Inappropriate or non-existent forest management systems (two focus groups).
The above-mentioned threats were not necessarily ranked in order of priority;
however, they were listed in terms of the percentage of occurrences by the focus group. As with the case at Ntabamhlophe, if a forest is protected, that does not necessarily mean that it was being properly managed. Sixty-three percent (63%) of the focus group believed that previous efforts to conserve the forest had led to forest improvement (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.4).
If there were no efforts to conserve the forest, it would have been more impacted-on and would have been in a worse state.
Unanimously, focus group (100%) indicated that they were personally aware of the evidence of unsustainable or inappropriate use of forest resources in the forest (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.6). Sixty-three percent (63%) of the focus group indicated that the rate of the problem of unsustainable use of the forest was very high (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.7). Unanimously, focus group (100%), regarded the problem as a very serious one; hence they recommended that it needed urgent attention (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.8). The rating of the problem was subjective; however, the need to attend to the problem was emphasized by both the wise counsel and focus group members.
The focus group was of the opinion that people did as they pleased in the forest. There was no forest management system in place and many forest resources were already difficult to locate. The focus group revealed that further forest abuse should be urgently halted in order to allow the forest to regenerate. For this to happen, the focus group members suggested the establishment of a competent cooperative institution.
In order of priority, the following were regarded by both the wise counsel and focus group as the major threats facing Ntabamhlophe forest resources (Appendix 1, section D, question 4.10):
• Crime (eight focus groups).
• Uncontrolled fires, excessive burning (eight focus groups).
• Uncontrolled harvesting of medicinal plant and fuelwood (seven focus groups).
• Deforestation (clearing forest for plantation, e.g. vegetable crops and Cannabis sativa) (five focus groups).
• Illegal hunting (five focus groups).
• Soil erosion (five focus groups).
• Inappropriate or non-existence forest management system (five focus groups).
It must be noted on the previous page, crime and soil erosion were not mentioned nor regarded as a threat. However, in this section these were regarded as major and high priority threats. This was based on the community’s realisation that the current forest use was regarded as illegal and the forest destruction was causing soil loss.
Crime was seen as a major factor ruining the structure of the forest. The forest was affected by activities such as clearing of the forest for Cannabis sativa plantations, use of fire for bee harvesting and incorrect burning to improve grazing on the forest margins. For the community, criminal activities were not easy to deal with, particularly those that were happening in remote areas like the forest. Despite the forest being used by stock thieves, it was also used by car thieves. Consequently benefits and access to forest resources was limited to those who were audacious enough to risk their life for livelihood resources.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the focus group indicated that people should not be allowed to use the forest resources in an unsustainable manner (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.12). Seventy-five percent (75%) of the focus group indicated that the prospects of the Ntabamhlophe forest being completely exterminated in the absence of proper management are very high.
In view of this, sixty-three (63%) of the focus group revealed that they would call for co-operative management between the government and local people (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.13). There were no indications from the respondents as to how this would work.
Unanimously, focus group (100%) strongly agreed that it was important to conserve the forest (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.14. The community felt that the forest should be conserved for the following reasons: so that; they can see wildlife that used to be in the forest: to halt further forest destruction: for community well being and sustainable use. Respondents recommended the following measures to ensure sustainability of Ntabamhlophe forest and its resources (Appendix 1 section D, question 4.16):
• Police crime in the forest (five focus groups).
• Grow medicinal plants (establish an indigenous plant nursery) (two focus groups).
• Manage collectively (cooperative management) (three focus groups).
• Conserve and protect the forest (five focus groups).
• Develop the forest for ecotourism ventures (four focus groups).
• Develop and effective community communication, education and awareness programmes (four focus groups).
Due to the high crime rate, the community felt that authorities should intensify law enforcement operations and undertake regular policing in the forest. They indicated that some illegal activities were due to community ignorance and some due to negligence by community members. Some people indicated that due to criminal activities, they fear to go to the forest.