Managing the Miombo Woodlands of Southern Africa Policies, incentives and options
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2Forest resources and community management and use of forests2.1Miombo woodland coverThe geographical location of Mozambique, from 10 to 26o south of the equator, provides a diversity of climates that determine structural and physiognomic differences in vegetation types. Miombo woodlands in Mozambique occur to the north of the Limpopo River and occupy approximately two-thirds of the natural forest area, followed by mopane (MINED, 1986; Bandeira et al., 1994). MINED (1986) classified miombo into seven different types, based on their leaf-shed pattern and altitude. Mozambique’s richest woodlands in terms of wood products and biodiversity are the mosaics of semi-deciduous wet forest with miombo woodlands that occur in the coastal region of central Mozambique, south and north of the Zambezi delta (Wild and Fernandes, 1968; MINED, 1986; Saket, 1994). Other rich areas can be found in the slopes of high mountains mostly in the Chimoio plateau and Gurue (MINED, 1986; Saket, 1994; Wild and Fernandes, 1968). In the coastal region of Inhambane and Gaza and a large part of Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces, miombo woodlands are relatively simple formations with short trees and low tree density. Structurally these are called wooded savannas because of the high grass cover, with low density and small-sized trees (Wild and Fernandes, 1968), and classified tall or short scrub (Saket, 1994). Because of the structural characteristics of miombo, it constitutes an excellent habitat for a variety of herbivores such as waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymus), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), eland (Taurotragus oryx), sable (Hippotragus niger), Lichtenstein's Hartebeest (A. litchensteinii) and carnivores such as lions (P. leo), leopards (P. pardus). About 80 percent of the large terrestrial mammals of Mozambique are found in miombo woodland. Many other animals, in groups such as insects (including edible worms), reptiles, birds and fish, are associated with miombo (Soto and Sitoe, 1994; Hatton et al., 1994; Bandeira et al., 1994). 2.2Local use of woodland products and household livelihood strategiesThe CBNRM projects analyzed in this report were based on six main economic activities using miombo products: charcoal production and sale; building materials harvesting and sales; honey production and sales; fuelwood collection and sales; hand-sawing for timber; and wooden furniture production. The contribution of the forestry sector is invaluable, particularly because much of the population (about 75 percent) live in rural and urban areas where poverty and dependence on forestry resources is high. Rural communities depend exclusively on firewood for cooking, while in urban areas charcoal is the major source of energy for cooking. A study carried out in Beira shows that even in the urban area, where electricity and gas are available, a significant number of inhabitants (50 percent) use charcoal for cooking (Serra and Zolho, 2003).
Dependence on natural resources represents an opportunity for commercialisation of forest products. Serra and Zolho (2003) found that among the charcoal suppliers to Beira there were more than 1000 small operators who transported 2-4 bags of charcoal per day from a distance of about 30 km on a bicycle. This means an average income of about USD 70-140 per month for those families involved in this transportation business. In addition, there are the charcoal makers. The charcoal market is the largest market for forestry products in Mozambican towns. However, other products that are marketed include wood for building materials, medicinal plants and food products. Many tree species of the miombo woodlands have multiple uses. Some of them are protected by local communities because of their importance in traditional beliefs. Many trees are left in the agriculture fields ("machambas") or simply not cut for firewood because they produce fruits or medicines, or have spiritual values. Some trees are protected because it is believed that they "produce water". These trees generally grow in the riverine areas – it is believed “if you cut them the water source will dry out" (Soto and Sitoe, 1994). The use of a variety of forest products by local communities constitutes an ‘invisible economy’ that aids the state by reducing expenses to the order of millions of dollars to the government that has no capacity to otherwise provide medicines, or produce energy and other forest-based products for such rural communities (Williams, 1993; Nhantumbo and Soto, 1994). The commercialisation of forest products plays a major role in local economies. Building materials are commercialised as much as firewood is. Other products such as wild foods (including fruits, leaves, meat and honey) are commercialized in local markets in the cities or, by the roadsides. They represent an income to rural people, including women and children. Medicinal plants are prescribed by traditional healers to their clients or sold in urban markets (Nhantumbo and Soto, 1994). Woodcarving is another important activity, using products from miombo woodlands. Woodcarvers normally live in rural areas and some of these crafts are household utensils such as wooden spoons and pestles that are necessary equipment for rural and peri-urban households. Carvings of different kinds of things are used as adornment objects for people in the cities. The most famous woodcrafts of Mozambique are made of Dalbergia melanoxylon and Spirostachys africana and are commercialized all over the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||