SHIFTING CULTIVATION, EDIBLE CATERPILLARS AND LIVELIHOODS IN THE KOPA AREA OF NORTHERN ZAMBIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT A survey on customary land and an adjacent forest reserve was conducted in the Kopa area of northern Zambia in November 2000. The objectives of the survey were to describe habitats of edible caterpillars and assess temporal and spatial variations in caterpillar abundance, the impact of tree cutting during caterpillar harvesting and the potential of edible caterpillars as sources of income for rural households. The results showed that edible caterpillars have the potential, even in years of moderate abundance, to generate incomes of over US$60 per household that are comparable to, or even higher than, incomes from the sale of agricultural crops. The most favourable habitats for the production of the two most popular edible caterpillars, Gynanisa maja Strand and Gonimbrasia zambesina Walker, were in young re-growth Brachystegia-Julbernardia (miombo) woodland regenerating after abandonment of chitemene shifting cultivation, probably because of the increase in abundance of their main host tree, Julbernardia paniculata Troupin; this species made up 55% of the trees in re-growth compared to 18% in the uneven-aged old-growth miombo woodland in the forest reserve adjacent to the customary land used for chitemene shifting cultivation. Although more trees were cut in young re-growths during caterpillar harvesting, tree mortality was negligible and recovery was better than in old-growth miombo woodland that is dominated by big trees that do not coppice readily. Selective cutting in old-growth woodland during caterpillar harvesting resulted in higher mortality of J. paniculata and regeneration from saplings was suppressed by the shade from uncut trees. The high mortality and poor regeneration reduce the capacity of old-growth miombo woodland to support edible caterpillars. The results also indicate that clear-cutting, as is practised during chitemene shifting cultivation, raises the capacity of the woodland to support edible caterpillars. We recommend that a trial caterpillar production working circle be created in Lwitikila forest reserve and managed by the local community primarily for the sustained production and harvesting of edible caterpillars in order to increase household and/or community benefits from the forest. If successful, the practice could be extended within the Kopa area of northern Zambia and to other similar sites.