Suchergebnisse

In many African countries, trees are often a source of security for poor rural communities in providing food and energy. This study evaluated the potential of introducing multipurpose tree species in the rural landscapes of Weza, Ugu district municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Structured questionnaire and focus group discussion interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive analysis including chi-square and Friedman tests were used to analyze the data. The study results showed that over 90% of the household respondents from Mkhoba and Ngubelanga have recognized that trees play an important role in their livelihoods compared to 88.9% from KwaBasa. In this case, the employment, collection of foods and fruits, fuel wood and grazing for livestock were benefits greatly received by household members from the surrounding forests. On average, 99.2% of household were also found to be interested in growing fruit trees with Citrus sinensis (4.96), Prunus persica (4.12), Persea americana (3.97) and Malus pumila (3.95) being the most preferred. However, giving the people their preferred tree species should be coupled with capacity building and extension support programmes in order to encourage them to effectively participate in tree planting and management. On this note, the government authorities and private sector would have to prioritize collaborative efforts in promoting or encouraging the growing of multipurpose trees and adoption of agroforestry practice strategy through development of tailor-made capacity building and awareness creation programmes. ; National Research Foundation (NRF) and Merensky Timber (PTY) Ltd. ; http://www.elsevier.com/locate/tfp ; pm2022 ; Plant Production and Soil Science

Based on work by the Miombo Network in southern Africa, this book helps decision-makers and general readers alike improve their understanding of the socio-ecology of the Miombo woodlands across southern Africa. It also highlights the importance of and the need for further research on the unique Miombo ecology and its link with economic development. One major challenge facing these woodlands is the influence that direct (both natural and anthropogenic) and indirect drivers of change, as well as interactions between these, have had over the centuries. As such the book explores the socio-economic and ecological interactions that occur in these woodlands and discusses the need for further research to provide a better understanding of these interactions. Drawing on data and information from numerous studies conducted in the last 20 years, the book presents a comparative analysis of policy changes and management experiences in the countries concerned. It also addresses issues of global climate change, since they have an impact on Miombo ecosystem management and restoration, and provides future projections based on an assessment of how climate change has affected the Miombo woodlands in the past.

BACKGROUND : Increasingly, forests are on the international climate change agenda as land use and cover changes drive forest and carbon loss. The ability of forests to store carbon has created programs such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation plus (REDD+), in order to provide incentives for particular land uses and forest management practices. A critical element to REDD+ is the ability to know the carbon-storage potential of an ecosystem, and the factors likely to affect the rate of carbon accumulation or the maximum amount stored. Most REDD+ initiatives have focused on humid tropical forests because of their large stocks per unit area. Less attention has been paid to the carbon-storage potential of tropical dry forests, woodlands and savannas. Although these ecosystems support a lower biomass per unit area, they are more widespread than humid forests. This proposed systematic review examines miombo woodlands, which are the most extensive vegetation formation in Africa and support over 100 million people. We ask: To what extent have changes in land use and land cover influenced above- and below-ground carbon stocks of miombo woodlands since the 1950s? METHODS : We will search systematically for studies that document the influence of land use and cover change on above and below ground carbon in miombo woodlands since the 1950s. We will consult bibliographic databases and an extensive grey literature network, including government reports and forestry offices. Relevant studies will examine the impacts of human activities, fire and other land use or cover changes that affect wood biomass or soil carbon in the miombo region. All included studies will be assessed for the soundness and scientific validity of their study design. A quantitative synthesis will tabulate estimates of various parameters necessary to assess carbon stocks and changes across climate and geological factors; and a qualitative analysis will describe the governing land and forest policies. Understanding the impact that land ...