the Mpingo Conservation Project - Coastal Forests of Kenya and ...
the Mpingo Conservation Project - Coastal Forests of Kenya and ...
the Mpingo Conservation Project - Coastal Forests of Kenya and ...
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The <strong>Mpingo</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>Project</strong><br />
Final Draft<br />
<strong>Mpingo</strong> Survey 2000 Full Report<br />
Aims & Objectives<br />
Aims & Objectives<br />
The first two expeditions from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mpingo</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>Project</strong> established a solid base-line set <strong>of</strong><br />
data on both <strong>the</strong> tree <strong>and</strong> its ecology. However those expeditions, Tanzanian <strong>Mpingo</strong> 96 & 98, were<br />
limited by <strong>the</strong> narrow geographical scope <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir surveying. Although both expeditions included visits<br />
to o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> Lindi Region, each time <strong>the</strong> surveying was confined to two relatively small areas close<br />
to <strong>the</strong> coast, both <strong>of</strong> which were known to be rich in mpingo.<br />
<strong>Mpingo</strong> Survey 2000 aimed to reduce <strong>the</strong> uncertainties inherent in trying to extrapolate <strong>the</strong> information<br />
from <strong>the</strong>se small samples across <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> Lindi Region. 1 This area was already targeted by a wideranging<br />
forest conservation programme designed to protect its substantial natural resources from <strong>the</strong><br />
unrestricted illegal logging which is anticipated on a massive scale once <strong>the</strong> imminent road<br />
improvements are completed. Following in <strong>the</strong> footsteps <strong>and</strong> building upon <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> its<br />
predecessors, <strong>the</strong> expedition aimed to provide vital data for <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> a successful<br />
management plan for mpingo.<br />
To accomplish this aim required a much larger expedition; <strong>and</strong> so <strong>Mpingo</strong> Survey 2000 comprised 3<br />
distinct teams <strong>of</strong> mixed British <strong>and</strong> Tanzanian membership. Each team surveyed 2 separate sites<br />
r<strong>and</strong>omly located in Lindi Region. Data from <strong>the</strong>se 6 sites, toge<strong>the</strong>r with that from <strong>the</strong> first two<br />
expeditions, were statistically analysed in an attempt to answer <strong>the</strong> following key two questions:<br />
• How much harvestable wood is <strong>the</strong>re in Lindi region?<br />
• Is it regenerating?<br />
which are contributory factors to <strong>the</strong> overall goal <strong>of</strong> determining how severe exactly is <strong>the</strong> ‘ mpingo<br />
problem’. How many years stocks may Lindi Region possess if harvesting continues at current rates? Is<br />
present harvesting sustainable? What is a sustainable yield for any particular area?<br />
1 See Gregory et al., 1999; Ball et al., 1998<br />
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