Miombo Woodland Utilization and Management, and Impact Perception among Stakeholders in Zambia: A Call for Policy Change in Southern Africa

Abstract

Miombo woodland is important for both wood and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The most commonly harvested products are timber, firewood, charcoal, fencing materials and materials for making farm tools and household items. The non-timber forest products harvested include mushrooms, fruits, medicines etc. A range of user groups such as timber producers, farmers and charcoal producers are involved in the exploitation of different types of woodland resources. Differences in priority of wood products and poor understanding of the Miombo ecosystem often result in each group attributing the negative impacts on the woodland to the other groups. In particular, timber producers accuse the charcoal producers of causing the depletion/decline of the timber species population which are cut as a by-product of charcoal production. However, there is clear evidence suggesting that timber species tend to do better in charcoal production and areas opened up due to slash and burn. This suggests that charcoal production, slash and burn agriculture and timber production may be integrated in forest management. As a result, there is need to formulate policies that provide for the integration of these different land use types into forest management.

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks go to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Copperbelt University, Zambia, for funding the study. Lastly, the following organisations and individuals are thanked for their contribution towards making this study a success: Forest Department, Lamba Traditional Council of Malembeka Chiefdom, Ferdinand Handavu, Biggie Ng'ona and Jameson Mbunda.