Managing the Miombo Woodlands of Southern Africa - PROFOR
Managing the Miombo Woodlands of Southern Africa - PROFOR
Managing the Miombo Woodlands of Southern Africa - PROFOR
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particularly if carbon markets develop more extensively. The challenge will be to fi gure out how to<br />
incorporate <strong>the</strong>se types <strong>of</strong> objectives into multi-dimensional rural development initiatives, in order<br />
to increase <strong>the</strong> incentive for poor rural households to participate. Existing markets for environmental<br />
services, however, are quite shallow.<br />
Third, not only do <strong>the</strong>se markets need to be fur<strong>the</strong>r developed, <strong>the</strong>re are also important opportunities<br />
for increasing <strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong> woodland production. This will involve two particular and concurrent<br />
approaches: fi rst, enhancing forest-based markets by, for example, removing restrictive legislation<br />
(e.g., by allowing communities to harvest resources previously harvested by state monopolies;<br />
freeing up transport regulations) and by streng<strong>the</strong>ning local producers and forest enterprises (e.g.,<br />
by streng<strong>the</strong>ning local marketing federations <strong>of</strong> producers to provide economies <strong>of</strong> scale); and<br />
second, by ensuring that production <strong>of</strong> woodland products can be made sustainable so that markets<br />
can be assured <strong>of</strong> future supplies. Key barriers to overcome are related to <strong>the</strong> regulatory and<br />
devolution frameworks, and to weak national institutions.<br />
These challenges are easier to handle for some products. For example, honey production and<br />
sustainable woodland management are entirely consistent, and contribute both to raising local<br />
incomes and conserving woodlands. In fact, beekeeping and use <strong>of</strong> products such as edible<br />
insects and mushrooms have signifi cant potential to support environmental conservation by<br />
making habitat destruction more costly strategies. But <strong>the</strong> ease with which sustainable production<br />
can be achieved is <strong>of</strong>fset by <strong>the</strong> trade<strong>of</strong>fs <strong>the</strong>y also entail. Beekeepers, for example, are one set<br />
<strong>of</strong> stakeholders among many (e.g., pit-sawyers, charcoal makers, and <strong>the</strong> local elite who may<br />
benefi t from timber production).<br />
The various intervention areas toward improving miombo management, with <strong>the</strong>ir potential impacts<br />
and constraints are outlined in table 4.1.<br />
Chapter 4. SOLUTIONS: HOW CAN THE MANAGEMENT OF MIOMBO BE IMPROVED<br />
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