Abstract
Savanna woodlands make a significant contribution to rural households’ livelihoods, providing a wide range of resources as well as generating income. However, the sustainability of the woodland ecosystem is generally affected by the human harvesting intensities. This study aimed at quantifying the woodland resource extraction rates and its effects on woodland structure and density. Data were collected from households using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews, and from 128 rectangular plots measuring 30 m × 30 m. Vegetation parameters, such as tree density, tree height, diameter at breast height, species, stump density, and stump diameter, were recorded. The results of the study revealed that a total of 649 woody stumps were recorded, with an average of 56 trees removed per hectare. The findings showed that the intensities of stumps varied widely, with a high number of stumps recorded at a distance of 10–15 km from the settlements, where major land-use activities are fuelwood extraction, cultivation, and livestock farming. The results also showed that the increased commercial fuelwood production led to cutting of large mopane trees, which is an indicator of unsustainable harvesting. Based on the harvest rates provided by the respondents, results showed that large quantities of fuelwood were harvested for trading, which could put pressure on the woodland ecosystem, consequently resulting in woodland degradation. This study provides forest and range resource managers with valuable information on the quantities of stumps as an indication of tree removals and could be useful in developing effective monitoring strategies and promoting sustainable forest and woodland management.
Highlights
Woodlands serve as a major component of biodiversity and ecosystem services, providing ecological services, such as soil quality maintenance, regulation of water flow systems, carbon sequestration, and microclimate regulation [1,2,3], and economic services in sustaining local livelihoods [1,4,5]
Based on the vegetation data, this study reported low levels of tree removal per hectare in the study area
A great concern is that the mopane tree is the most harvested species, which exposes it to an increased risk of extinction if appropriate management strategies are not put in place to ensure sustainability of this ecosystem
Summary
Woodlands serve as a major component of biodiversity and ecosystem services, providing ecological services, such as soil quality maintenance, regulation of water flow systems, carbon sequestration, and microclimate regulation [1,2,3], and economic services in sustaining local livelihoods [1,4,5]. Despite these services and benefits, previous studies [6,7,8] have revealed that woodlands are under immense pressure, as rural communities depend significantly on them for household utilization. Knowledge on the level of woodland resource extraction is important for the successful management and conservation of woodlands
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