| |  | |
Commonwealth
Forests | | |
 Future challenges
A major challenge throughout Africa is the continuing education, funding and retention of forest
research scientists. Funding for carrying out research from national governments is restricted
and forestry is very much the poor relation when compared with “food producing” sectors,
especially when the budgetary source is the same for both. The myth that forestry is an
integrated part of agriculture is particularly strong in sub-Saharan Africa. The importance of
increasing agricultural productivity in halting or delaying deforestation is not always
appreciated and the use of agroforestry in the restoration of lands degraded by agriculture is
not given due prominence in inter-sectoral research. That said a number of smaller countries in
Africa have developed competent forest research teams, in research institutions and
universities, which
are able to attract research funding internationally. The challenge is therefore to achieve
visibility as well as viability. There is a plethora of priority research topics for Africa, identified
from the interests of participants in many conferences and workshops, and from potential
donors. However, for all countries, climate change is of prime importance. Within this priority,
research in support of the Millennium Development Goals comprises the highest national
priority areas. Other relevant topics include:
-
Management of water catchments
-
Genetic erosion of endemic vegetation
-
Forestry as an agent for poverty reduction
-
Sustainability of all products and services
-
Overall inter-sectoral land management policy, planning and practice
|
