America, developinq J\.frica recorded ir.cre;,ses ir: her exports cf sawloqs ar.ri veneer loqs (7.7 per cert) ar.d a surprisinqly larqe increase in panel prcuucts (13 per cent). There \las, ha1ever, a further decrease of scr:1e 2 per cent in savn.wcoJ experts ever the 1979 fiqure, which is directly attributaLle tc the rather lC\1 level of housir:q starts in Europe anC. the United States. 76. The Philippines placed a bar: cr: lcq experts it: 1981, and Ir:­ donesia placed restricticPs on lcq experts in l9E2 \<lith a vie\l to impcsinq a ccmplete ban in 1985. These moves by Africa's ccr.;­ petitcrs auour well for a recovery of Africa 's pcsiticn in the intern:l tiorol hardwccxi trade. (d) Prospects 77. It is .,.,crth nctinq that western Europe is fast exhausting its cwn supplies cf birch sa•rlc'Qs, ar.d \Jill increasinqly have to deper.d or: exterr.al supplies tc mair,te,;. in the iriiustries i rwcl ved. Whether or net Africa takes full acJ.\·a ntaqe of the opportu r:i ties will very much depend on investmer:t ir: nachir:.ery, the cost of which tripled between 1974 and 1982. 7. Devel oprr,e r.t pel icies, prol:lerns a rxi prospects 78. In confcrmity 1.1ith the Reqicral :reed Pla li fe-r Africa aci.cpted at the Tenth FAO Regional Conference for Africa, ar;d the Laqcs Plan of Acticn, African Gcvernments are attachiPq pricrity in the policies and measures beir.q adcptec1 to incrensinq feed produc­ tion, reducing feed losses ar:d achievir:o feed security. 53 E/ECP,'Ct-~. 9/5 79. In a large r;untber cf J!,frica n developillg countries, empahsis is r:-:M shifting towards the deployment of ar increasinq share of devel:Jpment resources to raise beth the rate cf ir:crease and the over-:.111 volume cf agricultural output. In Zimbabv:e, fer ex­ amplE:, in a radical departure frcr<i previous develcpmel"'t Ludqets, 