Management, Growth, and Carbon Storage in Miombo Woodlands of Tanzania

Z J Lupala,L P Lusambo,Y M Ngaga

doi:10.1155/2014/629317

Abstract

Despite the local livelihoods support function provided by miombo woodlands of Tanzania under participatory forest management, its growth still has potential for carbon storage and sequestration attractive to REDD+ initiatives. This study has revealed the average growth to be significant, despite the local community livelihoods support function. However, climate change mitigation strategy needs to be more innovative to optimize carbon storage and local livelihoods’ potentials in forest-dependent communities like miombo woodlands. Carbon credits resulting from the increased carbon stock and sequestration should contribute to sustainable development. This should also help promote participatory forest management and secure miombo woodland products and services upon which billions of people depend.

Highlights

Forests and woodlands are sinks and reservoirs which naturally absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) [1]
The gas is stored in the biomass and soil; forests and woodlands help to mitigate the challenges of climate change [2, 3]
The objective of this paper is to review and explore the extent of miombo woodlands growth and incremental biomass under Participatory forest management (PFM) to provide insight on the existing potential for climate change mitigation

Summary

Introduction

Forests and woodlands are sinks and reservoirs which naturally absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) [1]. Livelihoods of significant number of people depend on forests and woodlands through provision of many forest products and environmental services [4]. They conserve biodiversity [5] and cultural and spiritual values [6, 7]. The discussion about carbon storage and sequestration in forests and woodlands among other climate change mitigation options is increasing [8, 9]. This is mainly due to its cost-effectiveness compared to many engineering solutions [10,11,12]. Land use change and forest management were included in the postKyoto Protocol and are being discussed in several meetings and reports of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [1, 8, 9]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion