Browsing by Author "Luoga, E.J."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Assessment of tree stocking and diversity for joint forest management (JFM) in Nkweshoo village forest management area, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
(A B Academic Publishers, 2012) Luoga, E.J.; Kajembe, G.C.; Shemweta, D.T.K.; Zahabu, E.; Mwaipopo, C. S.; Kweka, D. L.
A village forest near the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro managed under Joint Forest Management (JFM) by the government and the local people was studied to assess its growing stock and to suggest interventions and management to promote its sustainable use. Data were collected using the methods of the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) research programme. 19 tree species were identified and enumerated; the stocking was 714 trees/ha, basal area 27.5m2/ha and standing wood volume of 310 m3/ha. Almost half the standing volume was Macaranga kilimandscharica, a canopy tree species that was less desired for sawn timber and had not been over-harvested. Commercial timber production of other species that has been the dominant object of management is currently not sustainable. However, M. kilimandscharica is now the most preferred for firewood and light timber by the local user groups. Limited removal of over mature trees of this species by the local user groups for subsistence and community uses is recommended. The need for continued selective harvesting requires the determination of the sustainable allowable cut through recurrent resource assessment. Meanwhile the controlled harvesting will both demonstrate the value of the forest and motivate local people to protect it and, at the same time, increase its productivity and biodiversity.
Contribution of charcoal extraction to deforestation: experience from CHAPOSA Research Project.
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2000) Malimbwi, R.E.; Zahabu, E.; Kajembe, G.C.; Luoga, E.J.
The Charcoal Potential in Southern Africa (CHAPOSA) project which commenced in November, 1999 aimed at increasing the understanding of the effects of utilization of charcoal in three countries of Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania in southern Africa. The main ecological activities carried out in order to understand the impact of charcoal production on the ecology include: determination of species composition and diversity through forest inventory; determination of mean annual increment for Kitulangalo area from two time series measurements of 1996 and 1999; charcoal tree species and size gradient as influenced by proximity to access roads in Kitulangalo and Mbwewe areas through forest inventory; kiln efficiencies, species and tree sizes preference for charcoal making for Kitulangalo, Mbwewe and Bana areas; woodland cover change between 1991 and 1998; and 1991 and 2000 in the northern and southern catchment parts respectively using satellite imageries. Socio-economic data were collected from Kitulangalo, Mbwewe and Bana. The selection criteria for these sites were: presence of actual charcoal production activities; accessibility relative to other areas in the earmarked catchment area for the study; representative-ness of the study sites in making broad conclusions of the study and availability of ecological and socio- economic data. This study demonstrated that charcoal production and cultivation have an impact on large-scale deforestation that has occurred in the area between 1991 and 1998. Tree species suitable for charcoal production have been depleted at the roadside and the average distance to charcoal production sites has increased. Tree cover is worse today than ten years ago due to charcoal production. These observations have wide policy implications, given the increased demand for charcoal from the growing urban population with no reliable and affordable alternative sources of energy. Only 74% of the closed and 54% of the open woodlands, remain relatively unchanged; most of these were in forest reserves. However, these areas were also undergoing modification due to encroachment for charcoal, timber and other forest products. It is true that in the absence of any further disturbance after tree cutting, the areas may progressively revert to woodland. However, in the face of increased population and the demand for agricultural land, such areas may not be given enough room to regenerate. This calls for appropriate management strategies to ensure regeneration so that the remaining woodlands continue to supply charcoal to Dar es Salaam city and other urban areas. This study has shown that substantial regeneration has occurred in areas previously cut, if they have not been converted to farmland. This increases the potential of the regrowth woodland to supply charcoal over a much longer time period.
The impact of community-based forest management and joint forest management on the forest resource base and local people’s livelihoods: Case studies from Tanzania
(CASS/PLAAS, 2006) Kajembe, G. C.; Nduwamungu, j.; Luoga, E.J.
In recent years, there has been a move in eastern and southern African countries from centralised and state-driven management of natural resources towards decentralised and people-centred based regimes. In Tanzania, the inception of the 1998 national forest policy has led to institutionalisation of community-based forest management (CBFM) and joint forest management (JFM). A number of years later, it is worth assessing the impact of this policy on the resource base and people’s livelihoods. This paper uses two case studies of forest reserves under participatory forest management to explore this issue. Secondary data was gathered from various studies conducted in those two forest reserves. In addition to the analysis carried out by the various authors, further analysis involving content and structural analysis and synthesis of documented information was done. The results of the study revealed that CBFM at Duru-Haitemba had a positive impact on the resource base and people’s livelihoods – the forest is healthier than before and people are satisfied with the products they collect from the forests. On the other hand, the impact of JFM at Kwizu Forest Reserve has not yet produced desirable results since illegal activities are still rampant and, apparently, forest exploitation has increased instead of decreasing. The reasons behind the success at Duru-Haitemba and relative failure at Kwizu are varied, but are most probably linked to ownership of resources and law enforcement. Clear definition of rights, returns and responsibilities and adequate incentives are important for sustainability of people-centred management of natural resources.
The role of traditional institutions in the conservation of forest resources in East Usambara, Tanzania
(Taylor & Francis, 2009) Kajembe, G. C.; Luoga, E.J.; Kijazi, M.S.; Mwaipopo, C. S.
The study investigated the role of traditional institutions in the conservation of the East Usambara forests in Tanzania. It revealed that there had been institutional changes in management of forests, which had a negative impact on forest conservation. However, the presence of traditional institutions, which included among others traditional healers, traditional leaders, traditional taboos, sacred species and sites, had active roles in conserving the forest. More than 90% of the respondents had retained indigenous tree species on their farms and around households, with an average of six trees per household. This strategy is influenced by socio-economic factors whereby respondent age had a significant positive influence on the number of trees retained by a household. The study concludes by pointing out that traditional institutions have active roles in conserving the forests, and recommends that various strategies must be combined, including the use of traditional institutions, in Conservation of forests. Studying tradition institutions will give us knowledge on how they operate and how they can be combined with other strategies in government, NGOs and even the private sector in conservation of the forests. Socio- economic factors must be taken into account in the management of natural resources.