Environmental impact of cereal-tobacco farming system in Miombo Woodlands: A case study of Uyui District, Tabora Region, Tanzania

A study was conducted in the cerealtobacco farming system in Uyui District, Tabora region. The results revealed that depletion of closed woodland between 1970 and 1980 was 380 hectares per year and between 1980 and 1997 was 40 hectares per year. The results also showed that cultivated land increased by 225 and 240 hectares annually between 1970 - 1980 and between 1980 – 1997, respectively. The expansion of the cultivated land was at the expense of the Miombo woodlands. Key socio-economic factors identified by the study as drivers for the observed degradation of Miombo woodland include population growth, agricultural expansion and increased demand for fuelwood for tobacco curing. Keywords: Cereal-tobacco farming, Miombo woodland, Shifting cultivation, Deforestation, Tabor