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

Figure 13
Main species processed by PIC Ltd. sawmills in Ikwiriri, Rufiji District, 2001
Afzelia
quanzensis
3%
Trichilia emetica
5%
Brachystegia
spp.
8%
Erythrophleum
africanum
2%
Other
2%
Julbernardia
globifora
17%
Hymenaea
verrucosa
63%
Source: PIC Ltd records, 2001.
Species composition from forest reserve stump surveys
Forest stump surveys are one method to help ground truth other information, such as that contained on the
harvest licences. A stump survey was conducted at Ruhoi Forest Reserve in Rufiji District during 2000
(Anon., 2002f). The weighted percentage of stumps (i.e. taking into account variable average diameters
of different species) revealed that Trichilia emetica and Afzelia quanzensis accounted for the largest
volumes of freshly felled timber (Table 18). The stump survey (N=322) also showed that there were
large differences between the species composition of harvests observed in the field and on harvest
licences. Most notably, Pterocarpus angolensis, a Class II species that was not issued on any harvest
licences in Rufiji District during 2000, was indeed being harvested (Table 18). This high value species
was clearly being illegally targeted for trade. This species is the most favoured timber in Dar es Salaam,
although prices continue to rise (Wells et al., 2000). Similarly, fresh stumps of A. quanzensis and
Swartzia madagascariensis (Class II) accounted for more than twice their harvest volumes recorded on
licences, resulting in underreporting and losses in revenue. On the other hand, fresh stumps of Hymenaea
verrucosa (Class V) accounted for eight per cent of the total stumps found in the forest, but nevertheless
accounted for 46% of the total permitted harvest volume recorded on licences. Traders appear to have
been illegally harvesting and trading in the more valuable Class II species having paid lower royalties for
the cheaper Class V species.
Unfortunately, individual harvest licences detailing the harvest areas were not available for 2000, and
Kibiti checkpoint records did not record species at that time. Whilst species selection almost certainly
varies between different areas of the same district, Ruhoi Forest Reserve is known to be a major source of
timber in the case of Rufiji District and the results are therefore believed to be fairly reliable. Between
October 2001 and January 2002, the species and origin of all timber originating from Ruhoi Forest
Reserve and passing through Kibiti checkpoint was recorded, showing a similar species composition to
the licence records for 2000 (Table 18). These data would be a useful benchmark to compare against a
more updated stump survey in Ruhoi Forest Reserve. Nevertheless, one cannot assume that the same
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