To secure broad-based support for the development of the sector, it is necessary that opportunities for the forest development are incorporated into the national, provincial and municipal plans.

Steps are underway to develop a sector growth strategy and action plan for the forestry, pulp and paper and furniture industries in South Africa. This forms part of the National Industrial Policy Framework and the Industrial Policy Action Plan for the country. The sector growth strategy and action  plan needs to be completed to support the implementation of this Charter.

Steps have also been taken to ensure that Forest Sector development initiatives are included in Provincial Growth and Development Strategies (PGDS's) and Municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDP's) for forestry regions in the country. However, more work has to be done to ensure that this is done for all forestry regions and that Forest Sector inputs are continually updated.

To this end:

This measure will be in place within 6 months of the signing of the Charter.

This measure will be in place within 1 year of the signing of the Charter.

This measure will be in place in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo within two years of the signing of the Charter and in other key forestry areas within three years thereafter.