Water and nitrogen dynamics in Gliricidia sepium/pigeonpea/maize systems in Southern Malawi

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Assessment of the African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) populations in Namibia: Implications for conservation

This study assessed the population structure of baobabs (Adansonia digitata) in Kunene, Omusati, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi Regions in northern Namibia. Data were collected from 240 trees in randomly selected baobab clusters. The stem girth at breast height (gbh, converted to stem diameter), height and crown diameter were recorded for each individual tree. Any sign of damage on the stem was recorded. Average stem densities were determined and compared between regions. Stem number per diameter classes were presented in histograms. The highest baobab density (6.7 stems per ha) was observed in Omusati Region and the lowest (0.2 stems per ha) was observed in Otjozondjupa Region. A J-shaped stem diameter distribution was observed in Zambezi Region and an inverse J-shaped distribution in Kunene Region. Bell-shaped distributions were observed in Otjozondjupa and Omusati Regions. The percentage of damaged stems in the sampled populations showed more damaged than undamaged baobabs in Kunene (63%), Omusati (83%) and Otjozondjupa (95%), but in Zambezi there were fewer damaged (46%) stems. Elephant damage accounted for 41% of the damaged stems whereas human damage was 59%. Selective protection of large baobabs by communities may attribute to the high densities and occurrence of trees in larger size classes in comparison to juveniles. Overall, the baobab population is currently considered as stable in Namibia. However, factors that negatively affect recruitment and establishment of baobab need to be monitored to ensure that a higher proportion of young trees survive. The study recommends protection and propagation of baobab seedlings in order to maintain viable populations of the species. Sustainable harvesting practices of baobab bark is also recommended. Keywords: Conservation, Life-stages, Population dynamics, Stem density, Stem diameter distributio

Phenotypic variation in fruit and seed morphology of Adansonia digitata L. (baobab) in five selected wild populations in Malawi

Adansoniadigitata L. (Baobab) is widely distributed throughout Sub-Saharan Africa stretching from Senegal to Sudan, and from Ethiopia to Natal. Information of phenotypic and genetic variation is a prerequisite for the domestication and improvement of baobab fruits from the wild. A study was done to determine within and between provenance variability in fruit and seed characteristics of five populations selected from four silvicultural zones and assess whether morphometric traits could delineate populations from different zones into land races. Fruits were characterized from 55 trees representing a wide geographical range. Six fruit traits and three individual seed traits were assessed. Results showed highly significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) in fruit, pulp, and seed weight, fruit length and width, number of seed, individual seed weight, seed length and width within and between populations. Mean fruit weight ranged from 125.8 ± 3.25 to 162.9 ± 3.25 g, seed weight ranged from 38.6 ± 2.5 to 66 ± 2.01 g and pulp weight ranged from 28.7 ± 1.33 to 41.4 ± 1.33 g. Single seed weight showed pronounced evidence of divergence of populations into ecotypes. The rich diversity found between and within populations is important for domestication purposes and tree improvement through selection and breeding. All populations could be used for seed source but distribution should be consciously done recognizing existence of races. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

The influence of tourism on the woodcarving trade around Cape Town and implications for forest resources in southern Africa

Woodcarving is an important informal sector industry that is heavily dependent on tourism and yet sustains the livelihoods of many migrant communities in South Africa. In the Cape Town area, the trade appears to be dominated by sellers from neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most traded wood species are Dalbergia melanoxylon (African ebony), Brachylaena huillensis (silver oak or muhuhu) and Afzelia quanzensis (pod mahogany). This study found that the average gross income from the trade was R6450 and R2692 per month in the tourism peak and off seasons, respectively. However, while the woodcarving industry provides an important source of informal employment, it has contributed to the scarcity of highly prized hardwood species, especially in impoverished, underdeveloped areas.Articl

The use of species-stem curves in sampling the development of the Zambian miombo woodland species in charcoal production and slash-and-burn regrowth stands

The use of fixed-area plot methods was considered unsuitable to compare the responses and recovery over time of different miombo woodland species to different land-use practices (i.e. charcoal production and slash-and-burn agriculture). Young regrowth stages have many stems and the older more advanced stages have fewer stems. Different land-use practices in miombo woodland impact on the recovery potential of the woodlands. Timber harvesting does not result in significant change in stocking of the woodland compared to changes in regrowth after vegetation clearing for either charcoal production or slash-and-burn agriculture. After such clearing the woodland regrowth changes from an initial high stocking to a much lower stocking over time. This study in Zambian Copperbelt miombo woodland assessed the feasibility to use species-stem curves to determine the optimum number of stems or plants to record at a sampling point in order to compare species recovery over time in regrowth stands 2-15 years after ending the slash-and-burn and charcoal production activities. The results show that 34 and 31 stems or plants for slash-and-burn and charcoal production regrowth stands, respectively, would adequately capture the representative number of species to describe the plant community of these regrowth stands. The research has also revealed that the use of fixed-area methods would result in the measuring of too many plants in one category (younger stands) with too few in the other category (advanced stands). Therefore, the study explains why, and concludes that, variable plot size is an appropriate method for sampling species recovery in regrowth stands. © NISC (Pty) Ltd.Articl

Potential of institutional arrangements for sustainable management of forests under co-management with local forest organisations in Mua-Livulezi Forest Reserve, Mtakataka, Malawi

Adoption of participatory forest management has initiated the trend of transfer of access, management and control of forest resources from government to committee based institutions. Hence, understanding the institutional arrangements that support implementation of comanagement with Local Forest Organisations is crucial for sustainable forest management. This study therefore examined the potential and contribution of institutional arrangements to sustainable forest management under co-management arrangement in Mtakataka, Malawi. Our results show that while co-management has created new multi-level local forest organizations in the communities, the potential of the organizations to contribute to sustainable forest management has been negatively affected by lack of appropriate power and legitimacy. There are clear and well defined boundaries for the forest resources and communities involved in comanagement of the forest reserve. However, co-management is faced with issues such as low participation of community members, ineffective rule enforcement, inadequate human and financial resources, and conflict of forest use. Despite these issues, it is concluded that with improvement in the co-management program, the local forest organisations have potential to achieve sustainable management of forest resources. It is thus recommended that the LFOs should be encouraged to follow what was jointly agreed upon and documented in the management plans. The management plans should also be regularly evaluated and effectively monitored for sustainable management and use of the forest products.http://www.cfa-international.org/international_forestry_review.phphb201

Genetic variation among and within provenances of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) in seed germination and seedling growth from selected natural populations in Malawi

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) trees have a wide variety of subsistence and economic values across sub-Saharan Africa. Knowledge of the genetic variation within and between the species is essential for management and designing domestication, improvement and conservation strategies. Fifty-nine half-sib families were evaluated in the nursery to determine the genetic variation and control within and between the populations from four silvicultural zones. Seed germination and seven seedling growth parameters were assessed. Total phenotypic variance, family variance, within family variance, individual narrow sense heritability, and additive genetic coefficient of variation (AGCV) were derived from observed and expected mean squares. There were highly significant differences in seed germination, plant height, root collar diameter, number of leaves, shoot height and diameter, tuber diameter and weight. Provenance variation in germination ranged from 46.7 ± 3.3 to 68.7 ± 3.3% while tree-to-tree variation ranged from 6.3 ± 8.6 to 95.5 ± 8.6%. Coefficient of variation in seedling growth variables ranged from 18.6 to 43.6%. Individual narrow sense heritabilities (h 2) ranged from 0.07 to 0.71. AGCV ranged from 3.21 to 14.67%. Morphological traits showed that mainland populations were genetically distant from the island one. High and moderate additive genetic control of traits and AGCV show the potential that Baobab can also respond well to tree improvement. High phenotypic variation found in the study offers an opportunity to effect selection of superior attributes at both provenance and individual tree-to-tree level. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Conceptualising climate change in forest-based rural areas of South Africa: community perceptions and attitudes

The perceptions of forest-based communities in Vhembe District of South Africa were examined. Special attention in this study was paid to the following aspects of climate change: socio-cultural issues, views and awareness, beliefs with respect to causes, concerns and lifestyle adjustments people are prepared to make in order to adapt. Vegetation type was used as criterion to select Makhado, Mutale and Thulamela Municipalities, which together with Musina constitute Vhembe District. Seven rural communities in each municipality were selected. Using the stratified proportionate random sampling procedure in combination with weighted Enumeration Area (EA) for the selected communities, 366 households were chosen and interviewed. It was found that although awareness of the specific term climate change was poor, most respondents possessed good knowledge of it and associated challenges. Increasing frequencies of erratic rainfall and forest fires were said to be visible manifestations of climate change. There was also a strong concern about the effects of climate change on forests and related products. The respondents expressed the desire to adopt responsible behaviour towards use and management of forests as a climate change intervention strategy. However, most community members were sceptical about the causes of climate change. Taking all these issues into account, there is need for activities that would enlighten the people on the causes and consequences of climate change with respect to their livelihood. This would help promote awareness of climate change and people‟s participation in crafting measures that slow down climate change.http://www.cfa-international.org/international_forestry_review.phphb2016Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI

Local community perception of joint forest management and its implications for forest condition: The case of Dambwa Forest Reserve in southern Zambia

This study conducted at Dambwa Forest Reserve in Livingstone, Zambia, evaluated the perception of local people about joint management of the forest reserve in the area and if there had been improvements to the livelihoods of the community and the ecological condition of the forest following joint forest management (JFM). Generally, more people (68%) participated in joint forestry management meetings than in forestry activities, such as forest patrol and prescribed early burning, and the size of the household significantly influenced the involvement of community members in JFM activities. The results also showed that the social status of the local community members played a significant role in their participation in JFM activities, with the forest committee member group being the most involved (57-61%). The perception of most members of the community was that there were neither monetary benefits derived from JFM nor any significant improvement in their livelihood following JFM. Although there were high regeneration levels (10 000 saplings ha -1) for all of the species, among the selected commercial trees Pterocarpus angolensis, Baikiaea plurijuga and Colophospermum mopane had natural regeneration consisting of 118, 72 and 67 saplings ha -1, respectively. Overall, 89% of the stems for the selected commercial species were less than 30 cm DBH, rendering them unsuitable for harvesting. It can be concluded that although the promotion of community involvement in forest protection and management contributes to regeneration of forest tree species, the communities did not perceive JFM as having improved their livelihood. © 2012 Copyright NISC (Pty) Ltd