Forest Sector Strategic Plan 2018–2024.

The Forest Sector Strategic Plan (FSSP) is a national planning instrument relating to the period 2018-2024. It was adopted to achieve the medium to long-term policy actions presented in the 2018 National Forest Policy (NFP) for the development and management of forest sector. The Plan’s objectives therefore intend to implement the Policy Statements of the NFP. The following are the FSSP’s objectives: 1) the capacity of forest institution and actors will be enhanced to match the requirements for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM); 2) to ensure Sustainable Forest Management through the establishment and implementation of integrated forest management plans at all levels; 3) the private sector will be encouraged to increase their investment in forestry sector; 4) appropriate regulatory instruments will be developed and implemented to ensure sustainable and efficient biomass supply; 5) biodiversity and ecosystems services and values will be enhanced in accordance with national and international agenda; 6) active participation of stakeholders in Sustainable Forest Management to ensure ownership and proper benefit sharing; 7) the adoption of Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forest (TOFo) techniques will be enhanced to contribute to overall forest resources and agriculture productivity.
To ensure sustainable forest management, the plan lays down measures and foresees interventions applicable to management of both private and public forests. Integrated forest management plans shall be established and implemented at all levels. With respect to forest ecosystem conservation, the objective is that biodiversity and ecosystems services and values will be enhanced in accordance with national and international agenda. The following outcomes are expected: (i) forest ecosystems are sustainably managed; (ii) natural forest ecosystems and native tree species are identified, mapped and gazetted as protected; (iii) management plans are formulated and implemented for each protected area; (iv) threatened native forest tree species are identified and protected; (v) Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is in place.
With specific regard to agroforestry, the adoption of Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forest (TOFo) techniques will be enhanced to contribute to overall forest resources and agriculture productivity.
Concerning private forests, the specific objective is that private sector will be encouraged to increase their investment in forestry sector, which means: (i) enabling environment to encourage investment of private operators in forest management and related wood products value chains is enhanced; (ii) private investors have access to public forest lands through long-term concession contracts to develop sustainable wood value-chain operations and industries; (iii) information on forest investment opportunities is available to private sector for participation in forest and wood industry activities; (iv) private forest smallholders ensure increased forest stand productivity and improved forest products management and incomes.
The plan seeks to enable more inclusive and efficient systems in the forestry sector. Initial guidelines to ensure integration of gender and youth aspect have been developed. Key issues are: ensuring the adequate representativeness of women in every operational planning; ensuring the adequate participation of youth in the management of forest; ensuring awareness of all stakeholders on gender issues; ensuring that newly established mechanism of benefit sharing will be gender sensitive.