116 STATE OF THE WORLDS FORESTS 2003 Impact of HIV/AIDS on forestry With an estimated 40 million people infected globally and . high absenteeism and declining productivity of the 3 million deaths in 2001(UNAIDS and WHO, 2001), HIV/ workforce, undermining the economic viability of forest AIdS has become a major development problem in all sec- tors, including forest -Saharan Africa has been reduced public sector investment in sustainable forest larly hard hit, accounting for 70 percent of the worlds total anagement as a result of additional resource require- infected. In countries where more than 20 percent of adults ments for combating HIVJAIDS re infected, life expectancy has declined considerably (UN, Ashortageof labour stemming from AIDS-related deaths has 2001). To date, AIDS has killed about 7 million agricultural already increased the use of forests and tree systems. Instances workers in the 25 most-affected African countries. Another of people reverting to the use of wild, uncultivated resources in 16 million could be lost by 2020(FAO, 2002b). sub-Saharan Africa have been documented( Barany et al. Although the overall effects of Hiv/AIdS have been 2001). In Malawi, a survey of microenterprises and small en documented (ILO, 2000), no comprehensive study has been terprises, including those in the forest sector, indicated a de- undertaken on the direct and indirect effects of HIV/AIDS on cline in the number of enterprises as a consequence of Hiv/ forests and forestry. As increasing numbers of people suc- AIDS(National Statistical Office, Malawi, 2000) cumb to the disease, however, the severity of the problem is The forest sector is developing comprehensive strategies becoming more evident. Implications include to address the problem of HIV/AIDS, and opportunities for a drastic decline in the human and financial resources of collaborating with other sectors have been identified. Little useholds, undermining labour-and capital-intensive can be done to address short-term agricultural production land uses and leading to increased dependence on and nutrition issues, but secure land tenure, labour-extensive forests productionsystems andemphasisoncertain medicinal plants the loss of traditional knowledge and skills, with devas- and tree species can make significant contributions in the tating consequences for the social, economic and cul- longer term. Forestry training andeducation, including youth tural stability of communities; and continuing education, also have a part to play in raising the loss of qualified professionals and technicians, se- HIV/AIDS awareness, promoting safety measures and verely limiting the capacity of governments and commu- hancing income opportunities for junior workers, women nities to implement sustainable resource management; There has not been any specific study on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the forestry sector but we lose staff almost every week in the department alone. Workers suffer different degrees of the illness, thereby reducing their availability to work. Since HIv-related illnesses tend to be long term, measured in years most of the time, the impact is quite significant. The other dimension is the amount of resources used for treatment or for facilitating funerals. Our tradition is that one is buried in the home village. A lot of money is spent to buy coffins and transport the dead home Even without a systematic assessment, we know the impacts in terms of human loss, lost hours lue to illness, and funeral costs are high m Kainja, Deputy Director of the Forestry Department, Malawi2003 FORESTS S’WORLD THE OF STATE 116 and globally infected people million 40 estimated an With /HIV), 2001, WHO and UNAIDS (2001 in deaths million 3 total s’world the of percent 70 for accounting, hit hard larly￾particu been has Africa Saharan-Sub. forestry including, tors￾sec all in problem development major a become has AIDS adults of percent 20 than more where countries In. infected ,UN (considerably declined has expectancy life, infected are agricultural million 7 about killed has AIDS, date To). 2001 Another. countries African affected-most 25 the in workers .(2002b, FAO (2020 by lost be could million 16 well been have AIDS/HIV of effects overall the Although been has study comprehensive no), 2000, ILO (documented on AIDS/HIV of effects indirect and direct the on undertaken is problem the of severity the, however, disease the to cumb￾suc people of numbers increasing As. forestry and forests :include Implications. evident more becoming of resources financial and human the in decline drastic a• intensive-capital and- labour undermining, households on dependence increased to leading and uses land ;forests ;communities of stability tural￾cul and economic, social the for consequences tating￾devas with, skills and knowledge traditional of loss the• ;management resource sustainable implement to nities￾commu and governments of capacity the limiting verely￾se, technicians and professionals qualified of loss the• the of productivity declining and absenteeism high• forest of viability economic the undermining, workforce ;industries forest sustainable in investment sector public reduced• .AIDS/HIV combating for ments￾require resource additional of result a as management has deaths related-AIDS from stemming labour of shortage A Instances. systems tree and forests of use the increased already in resources uncultivated, wild of use the to reverting people of ,.al et Barany (documented been have Africa Saharan-sub /HIV of consequence a as enterprises of number the in cline￾de a indicated, sector forest the in those including, terprises￾en small and microenterprises of survey a, Malawi In). 2001 .(2000, Malawi, Office Statistical National (AIDS strategies comprehensive developing is sector forest The for opportunities and, AIDS/HIV of problem the address to Little. identified been have sectors other with collaborating production agricultural term-short address to done be can extensive-labour, tenure land secure but, issues nutrition and plants medicinal certain on emphasis and systems production the in contributions significant make can species tree and youth including, education and training Forestry. term longer raising in play to part a have also, education continuing and women, workers junior for opportunities income hancing￾en and measures safety promoting, awareness AIDS/HIV .children and forestry on AIDS/HIV of Impact we but sector forestry the in AIDS/HIV of impact the on study specific any been not has There“ the of degrees different suffer Workers. alone department the in week every almost staff lose long be to tend illnesses related-HIV Since. work to availability their reducing thereby, illness is dimension other The. significant quite is impact the, time the of most years in measured, term is one that is tradition Our. funerals facilitating for or treatment for used resources of amount the .home dead the transport and coffins buy to spent is money of lot A. village home the in buried hours lost, loss human of terms in impacts the know we, assessment systematic a without Even “.high are costs funeral and, illness to due Malawi, Department Forestry the of Director Deputy, Kainja Sam