The Forest Industry and Development Within South Africa and Other Southern African Development Community Countries

The forestry sector has been identified as a key potential contributor to growth and employment in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, existing industrial policy is based on a high-level approach that can misdirect intervention related to the sector by overlooking potential only pointed out by more detailed analysis. This study applies developed tools for effective and nuanced policy making. The Input-Output Product Space (IOPS) method framework was employed to determine forestry sector policy targets on a product category level across 10 SADC countries. Out of 38 product categories, the six top-performing categories were: wood wool and wood flour; filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp; glazed paper; plans and drawings on paper; paper, paperboard coated with kaolin or organic substances; and transfers (decalcomanias). The IOPS analysis proved to be useful as a quantitative starting point for policy discussions, being more detailed than current policy documents. In-depth market research and further qualitative analysis should follow the application of the IOPS framework for effective policy-making.