Browsing by Author "Luoga, E. J."

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Community-based forest management in Tanzania: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
(Hyderabad, India) Nzunda, E. F.; Luoga, E. J.; Mahuve, T. G.
Differential utilization and Ethnobotany of trees in Kitulanghalo forest reserve and surrounding communal lands, eastern Tanzania
(Springer) Luoga, E. J.; Witkowski, E. T. E.; Balkwill, K.
Differential utilization and Ethnobotany of trees in Kitulanghalo forest reserve and surrounding communal lands, eastern Tanzania
(Springer, 2000) Luoga, E. J.; Witkowski, E. T. E.; Balkwill, K.
This study documents the utilization aspects and distri- bution of ethnobotanical knowledge of the local people of Morogoro, Tanzania, as a first step towards sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical woodlands. A total of 133 arbo- rescent species in 31 families was identified of which 69% had a variety of uses. These uses were classified into 12 categories and major uses were charcoal, firewood, medicine, and poles. Most tree species have occasional uses, but a few are exceptionally useful and thus their levels of utilization may far exceed their regeneration and production. The questionnaire survey in- dicated that 62% of the respondents agreed that traditional medical services were more avail- able than modem services. Utilization surveys indicated that wooden poles are the building material used in 98% of the dwellings and storage structures, wild foods were useful for food security especially during drought years, and high quality timber trees have been depleted in the forest because of earlier exploitation by pit-sawing. The distribution of ethnobotanical knowledge indicated that much of the relevant ethnobotanical and utilization information was held by more aged members of the society and hence there is a clear need to capture this knowledge before it is lost. This study has shown that resources are defined by use and culture, and some components of ethnobotanical knowledge have potential for the sustainable manage- ment of miombo woodlands.
Economics and sustainability of commercial production of wood fuel in Miombo woodlands of eastern Tanzania
(University of the Witwatersrand) Luoga, E. J.; Witkowski, E. T. F.; Balkwill, K.
Economics and sustainability of commercial production of wood fuel in Miombo woodlands of eastern Tanzania
(University of the Witwatersrand, 1999) Luoga, E. J.; Witkowski, E. T. F.; Balkwill, K.
Miombo woodlands, which comprise the largest proporti on of the savanna regions of southern Africa, are central to the livelihood of both rural and urban households . Wood fuel is the main source of energy for the majority of the population, with firewood used in rural areas and charcoal in urban centres. Indigenous commercial production of charcoal, using earth mound k ilns, utilises about 42 tree species, a higher number than for any other uses. Over 56% of the trees harvested within communal lands (ranging between 2.4 and 68.6 cm dbh) were felled for charcoal. The apparent profit in charcoal production is attributable to very low capital outlays, "free" own labour, "free raw materials" , lack of concern about associated external costs, high demand for charcoal and lack of alternative income-generating activities. Cutting of tr ees for charcoal implies an opportunity cost as the trees may have been used fo r other purposes such as timber, construction, medicine, firewood and food. Miombo woodlands also perform vital ecosystem serv ices such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and watershed protection. The estimated local wood consumption for charcoal of 6.01 m 3 capita -1 year -1 is very high compared to subsistenc e firewood consumption of only 1.3 m 3 capita -1 year -1 . The area cleared for charcoal production locally was about 1 671 ha year -1 which is about 10% of the accessible area within local communal lands. This shows that al though commercialisation of wood resources provides tangible monetary benefits to rural communities, it also contributes to environmental degradation that will ultimately threaten their long-term survival.
Impact of joint forest management on Handeni hill forest reserve and adjacent communities in Tanga, Tanzania
Kajembe, G. C.; Mohamed, B.S.; Luoga, E. J.
Indigenous plant uses and use values in Uluguru mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania
(Nature Kenya/East African Natural History Society) Wilfred, P.; Madoffe, S. S.; Luoga, E. J.
Indigenous plant uses and use values in Uluguru mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania
(Nature Kenya/East African Natural History Society, 2006) Wilfred, P.; Madoffe, S. S.; Luoga, E. J.
To assess plant uses and use values in Uluguru Mountains a study was carried out using household surveys and interviews on various uses of the plants. Descriptive statistics and use-value analysis techniques were used in data analysis. Of the plant species identified, 92% were used for fuel wood and 83% were used for construction materials. A significant difference in use values among the species was realized. Newtonia buchananii had the highest use value of 2.81 where as Piper capense had the lowest use value of 0.08. Villagers know which tree species are best for building poles or good as fuel wood, which wild fruits are edible and which are good for medicine. This knowledge is an important ingredient in the ongoing effort to reverse the trend of environmental degradation in the area.
Influence of forest land tenure regimes on forest condition in Uluguru mountains, Tanzania
(African Journals Online (AJOL)) Kitula, M. H.; Kajembe, G. C.; Zahabu, E.; Luoga, E. J.; Katani, J. Z.; Ngowi, S. E.; Eid, T.
Land cover and use changes in relation to the institutional framework and tenure of land and resources in eastern Tanzania Miombo woodlands
(Environment, Development and Sustainability - Springer) Luoga, E. J.; Witkowski, E. T. F.; Balkwill, K.
Prevalence and standing volume of Dalbergia Melanoxylon in Coastal and Inland sites of Southern Tanzania
(Journal of Tropical Forest Science) Malimbwi, R. E.; Luoga, E. J.; Hofstad, O.; Mugasha, A. G.; Valen, J. S.
Prevalence and standing volume of Dalbergia Melanoxylon in Coastal and Inland sites of Southern Tanzania
(Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2000) Malimbwi, R. E.; Luoga, E. J.; Hofstad, O.; Mugasha, A. G.; Valen, J. S.
In order to determine the prevalence and standing volume of Dalbergia melanoxylon( mpingo), 120 sample plots were laid out in each of two districts, Kilwa and Nachingwea, representing coastal and inland woodlands in Lindi Region, southern Tanzania. Using data from felled trees, volume equations for various utilisation classes were constructed. Also estimated were the basic density of mpingo, the percentage content Of heartwood, sapwood, and heartrot, and the thickness of bark and sapwood.The basic density values for mpingo were 1.14,0.76 and 1.06 g cm' for heartwood, sapwood, and both heartwood and sapwood. These are multiplier factors to obtain biomass values from volume. The heartwood content of mpingo is 83% of the total volume and the rest (17%) is sapwood and bark. Based on a few logs observed 13% of the total volume may be expected to have heartrot. The sapwood thickness is 1.1 cm with little variation irrespective of log diameter. The bark is thin (3.7 mm) and soft making the tree susceptible to damage by bruising and fire.The inland forests have twice as much overbark volume of mpingo as the coastal forests with 10 and 5 m3 ha"1 respectively. The merchantable volume to 20 cm top diameter overbark is 4.4 and 1.7 m3 ha"1 accounting for only 43 and 33% of the total volume per hectare respectively. Since regeneration of mpingo is easy, there is no immediate need to classify mpingo as an endangered species provided fire control is enhanced as an important conservation measure. It is, however, appropriate to regard the species as threatened.