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

Fewer large trees remaining
According to interviews with numerous stakeholders and field
observations, some traders were returning to previously harvested
areas to collect smaller logs. This practice was deemed profitable in
light of depleted viable live stands of valuable species such as
Hymenaea verrucosa and Pterocarpus angolensis.
Credit: Simon Milledge/
TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa
Traders returning to previously felled
Harvesting of undersize trees
trees to collect smaller logs, Kilwa.
Stump surveys conducted by REMP in selected Forest Reserves in
Rufiji District support field observations over a larger area that undersize harvesting continues. In
particular, the average stump diameter of Pterocarpus angolensis harvested around Ruhoi Forest
Reserve in 2000 was half the recommended minimum for sustainable management practices. Harvesting
of smaller trees as ‘off-cuts’, for poles and firewood is also taking place in the forests, consequently
leading to severe loss of species biodiversity. Due to a lack of management and control, even valuable
species such as Dalbergia melanoxylon are being harvested for charcoal production. Regeneration of
the most valuable commercial trees was observed to be low, due to a lack of seed mother trees in most of
the forests.
Declining plank sizes
Similarly, data from sawmills and field observations supported reports from traders that the average
plank size was declining for the more valuable species. For example, Pterocarpus angolensis planks
measuring only 6-7 feet are now commonly traded, almost half the preferred length of 12 feet.
Large-scale, illegal trade
This study documented large-scale, illegal trade in timber products
flourishing throughout the study area. Illegal and informal
activities take a number of different forms, although the relative
importance of each was not ascertained during this study.
Concealment and evasion were amongst the most common
techniques to avoid payment of royalties. The most common
practices involved the utilisation of off-road truck routes to avoid
official checkpoints, travelling at night, locking trucks to avoid
inspection, and hiding timber under other products (e.g. salt).
Truck delivering logs to woodland
clearing, Lindi district.
Credit: Simon Milledge/
TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa
In many circumstances, official harvest documentation has been obtained, but traders chose to
underdeclare or misdeclare the goods. Timber traders may quote lower classes of tree species in their
licences in order to pay low royalty rates. For example, whilst Class II species may actually be
harvested (TZS 40 000 (USD 39.02) per m 3 ), the licence quotes less valuable, Class V timber species
(TZS 10 000 (USD 9.76) per m 3 ).
The precise origin of timber is rarely checked in the field and many traders harvest timber in areas not
specified on the harvest licence. In some cases, the wrong districts, let alone the wrong harvesting areas,
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