Bridging the Gap: linking timber trade with infrastructural ...

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The National Forest Policy (1998) states that “unregulated trade can instigate uncontrolled exploitation and has the potential of accelerating forest destruction and degradation through loss of biodiversity” (Anon., 1998a). Trade in forest products, in particular for timber and charcoal, has contributed to the degradation of miombo woodlands and coastal forests that cover two-thirds of the country (Anon., 2001b). The past decade has shown marked changes in timber trade dynamics, with a geographic shift in supply and changes in species composition influenced by accessibility to, and abundance of, forest resources. For example, with decreasing availability of the preferred Pterocarpus angolensis, preference has turned to other species, notably Brachystegia speciformis and Afzelia quanzensis. Further, decline in availability and size of targeted species such as Pterocarpus angolensis in western and central Tanzania has led to rising exploitation of less accessible sources, including the coastal forests and miombo woodlands of Lindi Region. Miombo woodlands remain a vital natural resource for the country, both for economic and ecological reasons. They make up two-thirds of Tanzania’s forests and woodlands and stretch down through Zambia and Mozambique into Zimbabwe. These areas have a high floral diversity and concentrations of large and, sometimes, rare mammals, many of which migrate seasonally (e.g. elephants). Miombo woodland intergrades with coastal forests and surround some of the Eastern Arc Mountains, both areas of global conservation value for their high levels of species richness and endemism. Isolation of southern Tanzania miombo woodlands and coastal forests Up until 2003, poor roads and the absence of permanent river crossings largely isolated the southern miombo woodlands and coastal forests from Dar es Salaam. In particular, seasonal flooding across the Rufiji River delta almost completely prevented terrestrial movements of timber and other cargo across its banks during parts of the year (Figure 1). Before the newly constructed Mkapa Bridge was opened, only one major ferry operated on the Rufiji River, situated at a small settlement called Ndundu, south of Ikwiriri town. With over 33% of the nation’s population, 75% of its industry and the highest national rate of urban migration, Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest consumer and export market for hardwood timber. However, relative isolation has prevented the large natural stands of valuable hardwoods occurring in miombo woodlands and coastal forests in Lindi and Mtwara Regions from the massive exploitation witnessed in other parts of the country. Further, this isolation has left these regions with amongst the poorest infrastructure in the country, particularly roads, power and communications. Low economic prospects have resulted in this area being one of the nation’s poorest (Anon., 2000d). It can be reasonably argued that economic and social progress in the area have been hindered by not fully capitalizing on the existing development potential of natural resources from the remaining tracts of wildnerness. On the other hand, isolation may have also prevented the likely scenario whereby outsiders 4 gain unrestricted access to, and receive most of the benefits from, these woodland and forest resources, to the detriment of local communities who lack the capacity to ensure equitable and sustainable benefit sharing. 4 People not from the local area, often characterized by their higher capital and capacity to trade than local communities, but with fewer incentives for sustainable management. 9
Figure 1 Map of southern Tanzania showing location of Rufiji River and other geographic details Sources: Tanzania Natural Resources Information Centre; Hunting Technical Services, 1997. 10
Page 2 and 3: Published by TRAFFIC East/Southern
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 ABBREVI
Page 6 and 7: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was mad
Page 8 and 9: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The close relatio
Page 10 and 11: guidance from central and district
Page 14 and 15: However, significant changes in dev
Page 16 and 17: METHODOLOGY This study was conducte
Page 18 and 19: Field Research Research assistants
Page 20 and 21: Table 2 Types of analyses made amon
Page 22 and 23: south bank (1270 m 3 ). Therefore,
Page 24 and 25: commenced in 1986 have converted th
Page 26 and 27: The majority of reserved forests an
Page 28 and 29: Degradation of forests and deforest
Page 30 and 31: medicinal plants for curing illness
Page 32 and 33: STUDY AREA OVERVIEW The study area
Page 34 and 35: The coastal forests found in the st
Page 36 and 37: Data on harvest licences covering a
Page 38 and 39: Figure 8 Sawn wood and logs shipped
Page 40 and 41: eported to be very low, with most s
Page 42 and 43: ound wood from the study area. Over
Page 44 and 45: Species harvested in 2001, but not
Page 46 and 47: checkpoint records from Kibiti, stu
Page 48 and 49: Figure 13 Main species processed by
Page 50 and 51: Two species, Swartzia madagascarens
Page 52 and 53: melanoxylon (Class I), Milicia exce
Page 54 and 55: A few species have shown particular
Page 56 and 57: The frequency distributions of leng
Page 58 and 59: HARVEST AREAS, DESTINATIONS, MARKET
Page 60 and 61: Major harvest areas in Lindi Region
Page 62 and 63:
licences show how MI (Ltd.), the la
Page 64 and 65:
Figure 26 Off-road logging truck ro
Page 66 and 67:
Table 25 Total number of vehicles r
Page 68 and 69:
Seasonal variations in timber trade
Page 70 and 71:
Figure 35 Total timber shipments fr
Page 72 and 73:
Figure 37 Volumes (m 3 ) of Pteroca
Page 74 and 75:
Hymenaea verrucosa (Gum copal tree,
Page 76 and 77:
Figure 43 Volumes (m 3 ) of Dalberg
Page 78 and 79:
Charcoal shipments Official data on
Page 80 and 81:
Figure 47 Quantities of charcoal (b
Page 82 and 83:
Table 32 Proportion of selected woo
Page 84 and 85:
DISCUSSION Evidence of linkages bet
Page 86 and 87:
fees, applying ‘minimum breath he
Page 88 and 89:
saw millers and traders from Dar es
Page 90 and 91:
are indicated on the licences. For
Page 92 and 93:
RECOMMENDATIONS Costs of not taking
Page 94 and 95:
Table 35. Monitoring indicators inc
Page 96 and 97:
DESCRIPTION OF INDICATOR BASELINE D
Page 98 and 99:
DESCRIPTION OF INDICATOR BASELINE D
Page 100 and 101:
(Figure 51). Regulatory options to
Page 102 and 103:
Alternative energy sources Accounti
Page 104 and 105:
Anon. (1999g). Tanzania Country Str
Page 106 and 107:
De Waal, D. (2001). Setting Precend
Page 108 and 109:
Milliken, J. (1999). Youth migrants
Page 110 and 111:
ANNEXES Annex 1 Tanzania industrial
Page 112 and 113:
However, forests outside Forest Res
Page 114 and 115:
arks at TZS 2000 (USD 1.95) per kg
Page 116 and 117:
mm and relatively unreliable. The h
Page 118 and 119:
Coast Region has a total forest are
Page 120 and 121:
Table 43 Sectoral contribution to L
Page 122 and 123:
Annex 5. Sample checkpoint form for
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