High value timber species in Tanzania’s coastal forests will
be exhausted in 30 years, according to research by Tanzanian and UK scientists.
Tanzanian officials and NGOs met on 13th December 2016, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to discuss the findings
of Saving Forests, Changing Lives, a
project aimed at surveying the extent of charcoal and timber driven degradation
in coastal forests. The project, led by WWF Tanzania, the Tanzanian Commission
for Science and Technology (COSTECH), the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and
University of East Anglia, compared data from 2005 to assess the spread of
charcoal and timber producing zones in Pwani and Lindi Regions.
The study also found carbon storage has dropped by 40% in
Pwani Region. Forest loss and degradation in the tropics is one of the biggest contributors
to carbon emissions.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Antje Ahrends, Head of Genetics
and Conservation at the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, said ‘Our over-riding
aim is to quantify and predict the extent and spread of logging and to empower
policy makers and local communities with knowledge resources to safe-guard
forests and improve livelihoods’.
Isaac Malugu, WWF Forest Programme Coordinator, said “coastal
forests are among one of the priority eco-regions in Tanzania and globally. WWF
Tanzania has prioritized coastal forests as many of the diverse species are
subjected to serious degradation and deforestation. The current deforestation
rate of about 372,000Ha is high.”
Funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, the
project conducted livelihoods surveys to learn more about the role of charcoal
production for income generation, and launched an animated film in more than 75
coastal forest schools to raise awareness of the value of forests and the
importance of community engagement amongst the next generation.
Dr William Kindeketa, Biodiversity Researcher at COSTECH, called
for more action. ‘We need to adapt new approaches to halt the high
deforestation rates in Tanzania, otherwise we may lose many of our forests.
About the coastal
forests
Tanzania’s coastal forests are a hotspot for global
biodiversity and home to over 700 endemic and near-endemic plant and animal
species. Covering one third of the country, the forests also provide vital
livelihoods for many rural communities.
Despite Tanzania’s forestry regulations, threats from charcoal
production and timber logging result in the loss of an estimated 300,000
hectares of the country’s forest every year.
Notes:
1.
The project is funded by players of the People’s
Postcode Lottery: https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes
2.
The project is led by the Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh in collaboration with WWF Tanzania, the Tanzanian Commission for
Science and Technology (COSTECH), University of East Anglia, United Nations
Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), TRAFFIC,
and Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group (TFCG).
3.
All media inquiries should be directed to Joan
Itanisa, WWF Tanzania (jitanisa@wwftz.org)
and Shauna Hay, RBGE Press Office (S.Hay@rbge.ac.uk)
5. High
value timber species include: Pterocarpus
angolensis, Mninga; Milicia excelsa,
Mvule; Khaya antotheca, African
mahogany; and Brachylaena huillensis, Muhuhu.
