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

DISCUSSION
Evidence of linkages between poverty and quality of woodland/forest resources
Clear links between woodland utilization and livelihoods are evident in southern Tanzania.
Understanding these linkages is important to, firstly, strengthen national efforts to eliminate poverty and,
secondly, to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment that may exacerbate poverty. For example,
low purchasing power has resulted in a high dependence on wood fuel for cooking, which has negative
consequences on the environment and quality of life especially for the rural poor (Anon., 2001f). ‘Winwin’
scenarios and strategies need to be identified to ensure synergistic efforts to achieve both social
development and conservation of miombo woodlands and coastal forests (Figure 50).
The study area contains some of the largest remaining wild stands of miombo woodland in Africa, with
amongst the highest indices of forest density, quantities of forest per capita and unprotected woodland in
the country. It also incorporates some of the most intact coastal forests with high species diversity and
endemism. At the same time, this area represents one of the poorest in Tanzania, and most rural
livelihoods are heavily dependent upon woodland and forest resources in the form of food, housing, fuel,
medicines and income. For example, the value of miombo woodland products collected without any
payment collected for direct use in Coast Region was valued at almost twice the average per capita
income (Kaale et al., 2002). The decline in supply of certain timber species has heavily impacted the
ability of the Rufiji people to make durable canoes, an essential tool for transport and access to markets.
Not only are woodland and forest products important to rural livelihoods, but their use also accounts for
significant volumes of timber harvests. Fuel wood consumption in the study area per year was estimated
at 2.1 million m 3 .
Figure 50
Diagram showing different scenarios with regards to use/trade in woodland products
(a) ‘Win-win’
(b) ‘Lose-lose’
Benefits accrued
to livelihoods
Benefits accrued
to Government
Decline in
benefits accrued
to livelihoods
Decline in
benefits accrued
to Government
Integrity of
woodlands
maintained
Woodland
degradation
Sustainable levels
of trade and use
Legal trade
Unsustainable
trade and use
Illegal trade
Sufficiently
managed trade
and utilisation
Insufficient
management
at all levels
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