Timber Risk Score: 100 / 100 in 2017. The Timber Legality Risk Assessment contains an evaluation of the risk of illegality in South Africa for five categories and 21 sub-categories of law. We found:
- Specified risk for 0 sub-categories.
- Low risk for 12 sub-categories.
- No legal requirements for 9 sub-categories.
This page provides an overview of the legality risks related to timber produced in South Africa.
8% (9.2 million ha) of South Africa is covered by forests, of which:
- About 10% is primary forest
- About 71% is naturally-regenerated forest
- About 19% is planted forest.
Roundwood production totalled 25.5 million m3 in 2015. The forestry sector (including wood processing and pulp and paper) contributed US$3.7 billion to the economy in 2011, which was about 1% of its GDP.
NEPCon has evaluated South Africa as low risk for illegally harvested timber. Companies sourcing timber from Austria should still take care to ensure that risks are not present in their supply chains.
Score: 44 / 100 in 2021
Rank: 70 out of 180 countries in 2021
There are currently no armed conflicts in South Africa according to the Council on Foreign Relations' Global Conflict Tracker
According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program there were 4 deaths from 2010-2019.
CITES appendix II: Dalbergia spp.
FSC Certified Forest Area: 1,555,270 hectares (4 December 2019).
PEFC Certified Forest Area: 881,069 hectares (31 December 2019).
Information gathering
Timber source | Description of source type |
---|---|
Plantation |
Timber from plantations grown for energy wood on farmland (conversion from agriculture to energy wood production). A permit for conversion from agriculture to energy wood production is required. |
Semi-natural/natural production forest |
Timber from semi-natural/natural forest managed for production. A harvesting permit is required. |
Semi-natural/natural protected forest |
Timber from semi-natural/natural protected forest. Iff harvested, the area must be reforested with the species growing in the area. Permission of the landowner, perhaps with state notice or a permit, is required for harvest. |
Risk Assessment
Low risk of illegality. We found that any breaches of applicable laws are temporary, unusual, limited in their impact, and effectively controlled by the relevant authorities.
Risk Mitigation
We have not identified any specified risks and therefore have not suggested any mitigation actions.