Factors Influencing the Long Term Sustainability of the South African Forest Industry

SYNOPSIS We discuss five issues which we feel will have a major influence on the long term sustainability of the South African forest industry. These are: water, site fertility, labour issues, environmental issues, and national and international market forces. Specifically, we attempt to highlight aspects of our current understanding, and identify gaps in our knowledge. In exploring these issues, our objective is to contribute to the debate on sustainability, provoke discussion, and identify some of the research which is needed to meet the goal of sustainable forest management.