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Brachystegia, Julbernardia and Isoberlinia (Leguminosae, sub-familyCaesalpinioideae) the woodlands is the largest more-or-less contiguous block <strong>of</strong>deciduous tropical woodlands and dry forests in the world. In Tanzania most <strong>of</strong> it isfound in the southern and western regions <strong>of</strong> the country. It is divided into dry andwet Miombo woodlands on the basis <strong>of</strong> annual rainfall, with those areas receiving lessthan 1000 mm rainfall annually classified as dry woodlands, occurring in CentralTanzania, and the wet Miombo with more than 1000 mm rainfall per year, and foundin South Western Tanzania (Abdallah and Monela 2007).Millions <strong>of</strong> rural and urban dwellers in Tanzania rely heavily on forests andwoodlands as part <strong>of</strong> their livelihood and to cover their basic human needs such asfood, shelter, health and spiritual well being. From the forest they collect fodder forlivestock, medicine, fuel wood, fibers and materials for construction and craft making.The forests also provides services <strong>of</strong> cultural and spiritual values, climate regulations,soil formation and conservation, water conservation and quality improvement,reduction <strong>of</strong> wind velocity and control <strong>of</strong> wind erosion (Abdallah and Monela 2007;FAO 2010). In addition, in periods <strong>of</strong> food shortages, <strong>of</strong>ten caused by droughtshaving led to crop failure, the local communities <strong>of</strong>ten rely on wild fruits and nutsfrom the forests for consumption or collection <strong>of</strong> other forest products which can besold or exchanged for food as a way <strong>of</strong> survival (Abdallah and Monela 2007).On a national level the forestry sector accounts for about 10% <strong>of</strong> Tanzania‟sregistered exports, while it is estimated to contribute to around 2.8% to the annualGDP, however this figure does not include fuel wood which accounts for 95% <strong>of</strong> theannual wood consumption and is used predominately for cooking (Vatn, Vedeld et al.2009).In terms <strong>of</strong> energy supply in Tanzania, only 10 percent <strong>of</strong> the population has access toelectricity and only 2 percent <strong>of</strong> those in rural areas (World Bank 2009). Even thoughTanzania has considerable amounts <strong>of</strong> alternative sources <strong>of</strong> energy, for instancenatural gas, solar energy, hydroelectricity and coal, these are poorly developed andare too affordable for most <strong>of</strong> the population, and thus, the majority <strong>of</strong> people have torely on firewood, charcoal, kerosene and coal to meet their energy needs (Abdallahand Monela 2007). Thus, when it comes to energy consumption, which is very low5

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