The influence of forest science on the development of forest policies in southern Africa is discussed within the context of the historical origins of policies and their evolution through changing national development paradigms, such as import substitution, structural adjustment programmes and globalization. These economic development policies have tended to influence forest policies much more than forest research. However, it is argued that forest research appears to have been most effective in influencing policies in countries in which forestry has played a major role in industrial development, based largely on commercially run industrial plantations. While noting that funding for research still largely reflects donor priorities, the research-policy interface could be improved at the national level, through the deft interpretation of national development policies and the aligning of research programmes accordingly, to maintain forestry's recognition in the national development context, to attract funds and influence policy changes.