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

Figure 36
Volumes of logs and sawn wood (expressed as round wood equivalents in m 3 ) recorded passing
Kibiti checkpoint, 2001
Volume (m3) Planks Logs
800
600
400
200
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Source: Kibiti checkpoint records, 2001.
Trade in key timber species
The following section provides information for species that have shown significant changes in demand
and/or high levels of current harvest (see section on Trends in Species Composition).
Pterocarpus angolensis (African Teak, Mninga) - Class II
Pterocarpus angolensis is one of the most well known woods in southern tropical Africa, with a highly
desired golden red-brown colour used for quality furniture and construction. It is a medium-sized to large
deciduous tree, up to 20 m tall, found in woodland and wooded grassland in Kilwa, Lindi, Morogoro and
Tabora (Mbuya et al., 1994).
According to official harvest statistics, the proportion of P. angolensis decreased by 12% from 2000 to
2001. Harvest licences show that the species constitutes a large proportion of timber trade from the study
area (10%), although this is suspected to be considerably higher due to illegal trade and misclassification.
The majority of harvest permits were issued for Lindi Region during 2001, especially Kilwa, Ruangwa
and Liwale Districts. Kilwa District alone accounted for 54% of harvests, although volumes had been
significantly higher in the previous three years (Figure 37).
Evidence of unsustainable harvesting of P. angolensis north of Rufiji River revealed that the average
diameter of fresh stumps was half the minimum harvestable diameter for sustainable harvest practices
(Anon., 2002f,h). As discussed earlier, this wood is subsequently traded as ‘off-cuts’ that are not subject
to licensing or other forms of regulation, and this practice has led to massive overexploitation in some
areas.
Major source areas included Nainokwe, Zinga and Likawage (Figure 38). According to licences issued,
harvesting was spread relatively evenly throughout Rufiji District where harvest volumes have declined
significantly since 1992.
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