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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The close relationship between livelihoods, economies and woodlands has been well documented both
globally and within the United Republic of Tanzania. Rural and urban households, the private sector, and
local and central governments show varying degrees of dependence upon woodland timber resources,
which provide some of the most highly-valued products and services in poorer countries. Woodlands
therefore present enormous potential in alleviating poverty and enhancing social development. On the
other hand, growing disparities in poverty levels, population growth, unsustainable practices and growing
pressure on limited resources are increasingly threatening this potential, resulting in negative impacts on
both woodland integrity and the quality of livelihoods.
One apparent irony is that improved development may often result in greater negative impacts on
livelihoods and the environment, and these impacts may vary both spatially and temporally. Sustainable
development, particularly in areas where people rely heavily on environmental resources, therefore relies
on striking a careful balance. Development projects that are prone to negative environmental impacts in
the absence of adequate implementation of environmental impact assessment findings include mining,
aquaculture, hydroelectric power plants and transport development. Further, despite clear linkages
between social development, poverty alleviation and timber products, woodland management normally
suffers from insufficient funding, and available resources are rarely used proactively to mitigate adverse
consequences of development initiatives. Instead, efforts tend to be reactionary after negative impacts
have been felt.
This study, the first of its kind in the country, has documented valuable baseline information on timber
trade dynamics from miombo woodlands and coastal forests in southern Tanzania before completion of
an important development project. The Mkapa Bridge spanning the Rufiji River, the longest bridge of its
kind in east and southern Africa, officially was opened in August 2003. This bridge will greatly enhance
access to large expanses of timber resources south of the delta, which were previously inaccessible from
the north during seasonal floods. This area has one of the highest levels of poverty in Tanzania, but also
contains some of the last remaining viable stands of miombo woodland and coastal forest in the country.
Indeed, this region has the highest proportion of unreserved woodlands whose management depends on
the same communities who derive so many benefits, including a range of environmental services and
timber products.
This study was conducted using a combination of methodologies, including field research, analysis of
official trade-related data, mapping of logging roads and other spatial information, stakeholder interviews
and a review of available literature. As a result it was possible to assemble detailed baseline data on a
range of important factors and to present a series of indicators to facilitate the future monitoring of the
environmental and socio-economic impact of the Mkapa Bridge. Key challenges were identified,
including management capacity and practices, revenue collection, forest management, evidence of
unsustainable offtake and large-scale, illegal trade. These issues are discussed together with
recommendations for future work that will help ensure that the bridge has a positive impact on poverty
alleviation and woodland management in southern Tanzania.
Baseline timber trade data
In order to increase available knowledge on trade dynamics of natural resources from miombo woodlands
and coastal forests, baseline data is presented on volumes, products, species, sizes, harvest areas, trade
routes, markets, revenues and various sociological factors over the past year. An estimated 2.1 million m 3
of wood fuel is consumed annually in the study area, whilst around 42 000 m 3 of timber (round wood
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