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

cycling, soil fertility, employment opportunities, and a sink filter for air pollution emissions and carbon
sequestration (Anon., 2001a,b,e; Mariki et al., 2003; Mogaka et al., 2001; Roe et al., 2002; Turpie, 2000;
Anon., 1998e; 2002i). In Tanzania, miombo woodlands form the catchment areas for hydropower plants
including Kidatu, Mtera and Kihansi dams (Iddi, 1997). They also include the major catchment areas for
the Malagarasi wetland Ramsar site, a globally important site for avian conservation, including Wattled
Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus and Shoebill Storks Balaeniceps rex (Anon., 1999f).
Tourism-related employment and other economic activities from miombo woodland and, to a lesser
extent, coastal forests, contribute towards the nation’s GDP. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism
reached USD 730 million in 2002, accounting for 16% of the GDP. This compares very favourably to the
estimated average annual export earnings from wildlife and tourism of USD 81 million in the late 1990s
(Anon., 1998b). Within the study area, the Selous Conservation Programme has been instrumental in
helping to ensure benefits from wildlife management activities are also accrued to local communities,
with an average gross income per village at nearly TZS 1 million during 1999/2000 (Hahn et al., 2001).
There are also many undervalued forest products, both timber and non-timber, including wood energy,
building poles and timber, herbal medicines, edible fruits, mushrooms, plant-derived oils, leaves and
beverages, bamboo, gums, fodder, fibre, honey, candles, dyes, ornamental plants, household utensils and
handicrafts (Iddi, 1997). Underestimation of their value has been estimated at 35-60%. Various studies
have confirmed that the value to communities of forest products consumed directly is immense (Anon.,
2001a,e; Mogaka et. al., 2001). In the early 1990s, the local and national values of forests are estimated at
approximately USD 1050 and USD 1500 per ha, respectively, although this still does not include some
important indirect benefits such as cultural benefits (Anon., 1994; Mgoo et al., 2000). UNEP estimated
that the total monetary value of benefits arising from the
impacts of trade liberalisation policies on the forestry sector
of Tanzania was USD 44 million (Anon., 2002i). Positive
socio-economic and environmental impacts included an
increase in the production, distribution and marketing of
forest products. The forestry sector employs about three per
cent of paid labour and over three million people in the
informal sector, selling charcoal, firewood, timber, honey
and other non-woody products (excluding wildlife products)
(Anon., 2001b).
Dovecote, Liwale District.
Fuel wood remains the most important use of wood, accounting for at least 92% of the country’s energy
use and around 95% of the total wood products consumed in the country. Per capita consumption is
estimated at 1 m 3 per year (Anon., 1998a; 2002a,i). Households in the Kitulangalo area realize an income
of TZS 43 000 (USD 53.09 8 ) per month from charcoal production from miombo woodlands, higher than
the minimum government salary (Malimbwi et al., 2000). Non-woody forest products such as bee
products, food, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, gums, resins, barks, natural dyes, aromatics and fibres
contribute positively to household economy in rural areas and are good sources of income to women.
Beekeeping in miombo areas of Tanzania contributed around 58% of farmers’ cash income, equivalent to
USD 1050 per ha.
Due to their low cost and wide availability, plant-based traditional medicines are more popular than
western alternatives in many areas of Tanzania, and it is estimated that about 70% of Tanzanians use
Credit: Simon Milledge/TRAFFIC
East/Southern Africa
8 Using exchange rate of USD 1.00 to TZS 810, 31 st December 2000 (Anon., 2003a).
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