118 STATE OF THE WORLDS FORESTS 2003 forest funds, this figure was only slightly higher, reported that they could not afford to malbe g domestic public financing. In countries with managing many of these areas. Several count at 56 percent, suggesting that forest funds have and replant their forest plantations with the done little to strengthen the link between revenue that they were obtaining from the sale revenue collection and public expenditure in the of forest products. As a result, encroachment and sector(O I. Ajewole, in preparation) selective cutting of the most valuable trees is degrading these resources. If current attempts at Privatization of forest resources privatization are successfuL, other African options for privatizing parts of their public forest circumstances are right, countries may clear their estate, mostly consisting of forest plantations forest plantations and then rent or lease the land rather than natural forests a move in this to private tree growers, as has happened direction is being considered particularly in Uganda( see Box below) Southern Africa, by Malawi, South Africa and It is also important to note that the area of Zambia. Many countries are promoting new and privately owned forest land in Africa is innovative forms of private sector management extremely small, with only Uganda, South Africa in their natural forests as well and a few other countries recognizing significant The driving force for privatization is likely to areas of privately owned forest. A few countries be the inefficiency of the public sector in maintain that all forests belong to the State. In most, however, ownership and control remain unce RECOMMENDATIONS FOR Renting forest land to promote private tree planting IMPROVING FISCAL POLICIES Public expenditure on forestry in Africa is low compared with that of other regions, and a lack of available financial resources suggests that The system of renting out cleared forest land was introduced in sustainable forest management will not be achieved on the continent in the foreseeable plots for individuals, institutions and organizations to plant trees future. The following suggestions are made with supply poles and fuelwood for urban areas. This was initially a view to improving this situation done because the Uganda Forest Department lacked the resources Public expenditure. An analysis of public to replant these areas, but later it was seen as an opportunity to expenditure on forestry(OI. Ajewole, in involve private farmers in tree planting preparation)has shown that population has Under the scheme, farmers are each allocated a 5-ha plot, on the gre which they usually plant Eucalyptus species. The Forest Depart suggests that forests are valued largely for ment provides technical guidance for planting and tending op- their subsistence, social and environment benefits rather than purely for their financial and pays an annual land rent of USh1 500(US$0.85)per hectare benefits. Countries should therefore stress When the trees are harvested, the farmer retains all the profit from the socio-economic benefits of forests the sale of the poles and fuelwood including poverty alleviation, to attract more The demand for these products in urban areas is such that large Efficiency of expenditure. The huge many peri-urban areas today. The same scheme is now being proportion of public expenditure allocated to examined for industrial softwood, and some investors have al- leaves little for invest ready shown interest operations. Fewer employees, with adequate funding to carry out tasks, might be more effective. In addition more attention should2003 FORESTS S’WORLD THE OF STATE 118 with countries In. financing public domestic ,higher slightly only was figure this, funds forest have funds forest that suggesting, percent 56 at between link the strengthen to little done the in expenditure public and collection revenue .(preparation in, Ajewole. I.O (sector resources forest of Privatization examining are Africa in countries of number A forest public their of parts privatizing for options plantations forest of consisting mostly, estate this in move A. forests natural than rather in particularly considered being is direction and Africa South, Malawi by, Africa Southern and new promoting are countries Many. Zambia management sector private of forms innovative .well as forests natural their in to likely is privatization for force driving The in sector public the of inefficiency the be countries Several. areas these of many managing manage to afford not could they that reported the with plantations forest their replant and sale the from obtaining were they that revenue and encroachment, result a As. products forest of is trees valuable most the of cutting selective at attempts current If. resources these degrading African other, successful are privatization the if, Alternatively. suit follow may countries their clear may countries, right are circumstances land the lease or rent then and plantations forest in happened has as, growers tree private to .(below Box see (Uganda of area the that note to important also is It is Africa in land forest owned privately Africa South, Uganda only with, small extremely significant recognizing countries other few a and countries few A. forest owned privately of areas In. State the to belong forests all that maintain remain control and ownership, however, most .uncertain and unclear FOR RECOMMENDATIONS POLICIES FISCAL IMPROVING low is Africa in forestry on expenditure Public lack a and, regions other of that with compared that suggests resources financial available of be not will management forest sustainable foreseeable the in continent the on achieved with made are suggestions following The. future .situation this improving to view a public of analysis An. expenditure Public• in, Ajewole. I.O (forestry on expenditure has population that shown has) preparation which, spending total on impact greatest the for largely valued are forests that suggests environmental and social, subsistence their financial their for purely than rather benefits stress therefore should Countries. benefits ,forests of benefits economic-socio the more attract to, alleviation poverty including .spending public huge The. expenditure of Efficiency• to allocated expenditure public of proportion or investment for little leaves wages adequate with, employees Fewer. operations more be might, tasks out carry to funding should attention more, addition In. effective in introduced was land forest cleared out renting of system The allocated government the where, Uganda of areas urban-peri trees plant to organizations and institutions, individuals for plots initially was This. areas urban for fuelwood and poles supply to resources the lacked Department Forest Uganda the because done to opportunity an as seen was it later but, areas these replant to .planting tree in farmers private involve on, plot ha-5 a allocated each are farmers, scheme the Under materials and labour of costs the covers farmer the but, erations￾op tending and planting for guidance technical provides ment￾Depart Forest The. species Eucalyptus plant usually they which .hectare per) 85.0$US (500 USh1 of rent land annual an pays and from profit the all retains farmer the, harvested are trees the When .fuelwood and poles the of sale the large that such is areas urban in products these for demand The in found are plantations Eucalyptus managed privately of areas being now is scheme same The. today areas urban-peri many .interest shown ready￾al have investors some and, softwood industrial for examined planting tree private promote to land forest Renting Uganda in