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

of environmental protection (Monela et al., 1993). However, the capacity of the government to keep
accurate records of charcoal production is low.
Volumes of charcoal traded
According to district licence statistics, 181 126 bags of charcoal were produced and recorded in the study
area during 2000 and 2001 (Table 28). The majority (108 338) was produced in 2001, an increase of 49%
from the previous year.
In the study area, simple earth kilns with low charcoal conversion efficiency are used for charcoal
production. One cubic metre of round wood produces on average two to three bags of charcoal (Anon.,
2001c). However, measured weights of charcoal bags in the study area varied from 30-38 kg per bag,
higher than the national average of 28 kg (Anon., 2000a). Bags used for selling charcoal were not
uniform in size, accounting for the variance in weight. However, based on the assumption that two to
three bags of charcoal are produced from once cubic metre of round wood, an estimated total of 60 375 to
90 563 m 3 of round wood were used to produce the 181 126 bags of charcoal recorded in the study area
during 2000 and 2001.
Table 28
Number of charcoal bags produced in study area, 2000-2001
District 2000 2001 Total
Lindi 493 493
Nachingwea 246 55 301
Rufiji 72 049 108 283 180 332
Total 72 788 108 338 181 126
Source: District licence statistics, 2000-2001.
Note: No data was collected from Kilwa and Ruangwa Districts.
Credit: Simon Milledge/ TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa
Charcoal kiln and bags in transport,
Large-scale clearance of one hectare of miombo woodland provides Rufiji District.
on average 35 m 3 of round wood for charcoal production (Anon.,
2001c). Thus, an equivalent of almost 1725 to 2588 ha of woodlands could have been cleared during the
same two-year period although this is believed to be a large underestimate due to illegal production. This
figure is substantially lower than the estimated 4354 ha of miombo cleared per year to produce the
charcoal transported to Dar es Salaam along the Morogoro road in the early 1990s (Monela et al., 1993).
Monela et al. (1999) reported that the demand for charcoal was increasing in Dar es Salaam and other
urban areas of Tanzania since the majority of the population lack access to, or are unable to afford,
electricity for cooking. Further, research in miombo regions of Coast Region showed that the number of
people seeking income generation and employment opportunities through charcoal production was
increasing rapidly, consequently increasing pressure on natural woodlands. Besides local villagers,
immigrants from other regions are also involved in charcoal production. Low agricultural production is
also forcing local people to find alternatives for income generation through charcoal production (Monela
et al., 1999).
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