Management and utilisation of miombo biodiversity: impact of refugees influx in kasulu, Tanzania
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Date
2003
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International Master Programme at the Swedish Biodiversity Centre
Abstract
his study was conducted in Kasulu district in Western Tanzania to assess the
impact of refugees influx on the management and utilisation of miombo
woodland biodiversity. Specifically, the objectives were to (a) assess the uses of
and means of using forest resources by refugees and local Tanzanians, (b)
compare the extent of impact resulting from harvesting woodland resources
between refugees and local inhabitants and to recommend on how the means
of utilisation affect sustainability issues of the forest resources. Questionnaire
surveys, participant observation and forest inventories were used as tools for
data collection. A total of two hundred and forty people were interviewed from
two villages and two refugee camps using a pre-tested questionnaire form for
the aim of getting baseline data. From each village and camp a nearby forest,
which is currently a harvesting site for various Timber and Non-Timber Forest
Products (NTFPs) by local Tanzanians or refugees, was used for the inventory.
In addition a forest reserve was inventoried as a control site for the other
forest areas surveyed. Commonly used tree species were counted and measured
for Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Other notes were made whenever
activities such as charcoaling, chalk making, logging and grazing were observed.
It was witnessed during participant observation that a huge area of formally
miombo woodland and mostly village forest reserves had been converted to
settlements and farmlands for refugees. It was found that refugees’ harvesting
sites have fewer trees/ha and smaller diameter trees compared to villagers’
forests. The reserve, village and camp forests surveyed had 738, 474 &
351stems/ha. The village forests had a higher species diversity than the other
forests at 95% CI (p=0.0008). Pterocarpus angolensis, which is a valuable
timber species, was found almost locally depleted with exception of few
juveniles found in the village forests. It was deduced from these findings that
miombo woodlands in this area are experiencing rapid deforestation due to
faster rate of utilisation, hence highlighting possibilities for degrading its
biodiversity. Management of these forests, which locally doesn’t have any
specific interventional plans and strategies, is facing challenges. The extent of
these challenges become complicated since the time for refugees repatriation is
not known with certainty. There is a need to assess and redefine present
ownership and management patterns and strategies as one of ways to cope
with current use pressure and rehabilitate the miombo woodlands in this area.
Further studies to compare this influence of massive harvest of miombo
resources with places practicing subsistence harvesting of miombo resources
are recommended. It is also recommended to carryout population studies for
Pterocarus angolensis in Kigoma region to come up with more detailed
information about its status for it is highly demanded for furniture despite its
threatened status.
Description
Master theses
Keywords
Refugees influx, Forest resources, Harvesting woodland resources, Miombo biodiversity