Miombo Ecosystem Research Articles

Development of spatial models and maps for tree species diversity and biomass in a miombo ecosystem, western Tanzania

Development of spatial models and maps for tree species diversity and biomass in a miombo ecosystem, western Tanzania

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Wildfire Regimes in Miombo of the LevasFlor Forest Concession, Central Mozambique

Wildfires are an intrinsic and vital driving factor in the Miombo ecosystem. Understanding fire regimes in Miombo is crucial for its ecological sustainability. Miombo is dominant in Central Mozambique, having one of the highest fire incidences in the country. This study evaluated the spatio-temporal patterns of fire regimes (intensity, seasonality, frequency and fire return interval) in the LevasFlor Forest Concession (LFC), Central Mozambique using remotely sensed data from 2001 to 2022. We conducted hotspot spatial statistics using the Getis-Ord Gi* method to assess fire distribution and patterns. The results revealed that 88% of the study area was burnt at least once from 2001 to 2022, with an average burned area of 9733 ha/year (21% of LFC’s total area). Fires were more likely to occur (74.4%) in open and deciduous Miombo types. A total of 84% of the studied area, burned in a range of 4 to 22 years of fire return interval (FRI) over the 21 assessed. Only 16% of the area was affected by high to very high FRI (1 to 4 years), with an average FRI of 4.43 years. Generally, fires are more frequent and intense in September and October. These results highlight the usefulness of remote sensing in evaluating long-term spatiotemporal fire trends for effective fire management strategies and control measures in African savanna ecosystems.

Fire facilitates ground layer plant diversity in a Miombo ecosystem.

Little is known about the response of ground layer plant communities to fire in Miombo ecosystems, which is a global blind spot of ecological understanding. We aimed: (1) to assess the impact of three experimentally imposed fire treatments on ground layer species composition and compare it with patterns observed for trees; and (2) to analyse the effect of fire treatments on species richness to assess how responses differ among plant functional groups. At a 60-year-long fire experiment in Zambia, we quantified the richness and diversity of ground layer plants in terms of taxa and functional groups across three experimental fire treatments of late dry-season fire, early dry-season fire and fire exclusion. Data were collected in five repeat surveys from the onset of the wet season to the early dry season. Of the 140 ground layer species recorded across the three treatments, fire-maintained treatments contributed most of the richness and diversity, with the least number of unique species found in the no-fire treatment. The early-fire treatment was more similar in composition to the no-fire treatment than to the late-fire treatment. C4 grass and geoxyle richness were highest in the late-fire treatment, and there were no shared sedge species between the late-fire and other treatments. At a plot level, the average richness in the late-fire treatment was twice that of the fire exclusion treatment. Heterogeneity in fire seasonality and intensity supports diversity of a unique flora by providing a diversity of local environments. African ecosystems face rapid expansion of land- and fire-management schemes for carbon offsetting and sequestration. We demonstrate that analyses of the impacts of such schemes predicated on the tree flora alone are highly likely to underestimate impacts on biodiversity. A research priority must be a new understanding of the Miombo ground layer flora integrated into policy and land management.

Ecological Drivers of Habitat Use by Meso Mammals in a Miombo Ecosystem in the Issa Valley, Tanzania

Vast stretches of East and Southern Africa are characterized by a mosaic of deciduous woodlands and evergreen riparian forests, commonly referred to as “miombo,” hosting a high diversity of plant and animal life. However, very little is known about the communities of small-sized mammals inhabiting this heterogeneous biome. We here document the diversity and abundance of 0.5–15 kg sized mammals (“meso-mammals”) in a relatively undisturbed miombo mosaic in western Tanzania, using 42 camera traps deployed over a 3 year-period. Despite a relatively low diversity of meso-mammal species (n = 19), these comprised a mixture of savanna and forest species, with the latter by far the most abundant. Our results show that densely forested sites are more intensely utilized than deciduous woodlands, suggesting riparian forest within the miombo matrix might be of key importance to meso-mammal populations. Some species were captured significantly more often in proximity to (and sometimes feeding on) termite mounds (genus Macrotermes), as they are a crucial food resource. There was some evidence of temporal partitioning in activity patterns, suggesting hetero-specific avoidance to reduce foraging competition. We compare our findings to those of other miombo sites in south-central Africa.

Deforestation and Biomass Production in Miombo Forest in Huambo (Angola): A Balance between Local and Global Needs

Miombo is one of the most widely distributed ecosystems in Angola, with a great social and environmental value. Thus, the rural population uses the biomass as fuel and miombo provides important ecosystem services, such as its carbon sequestration capacity. The objectives of this work were (i) to assess deforestation in miombo forest in Huambo province (Angola) during the last 20 years, (ii) to evaluate carbon storage capacity of miombo, and (iii) to calculate the charcoal productive capacity of those forests. From 2000 to 2019, 359,130 ha (12.96%) were deforested in Huambo province. Thirty-six woody species were identified as major components of miombo forest, the most frequent being Albizia anthunesiana, Brachystegia spiciformis, Julbernardia paniculata, Monote spp., Brachystegia boemii, Isoberlinea angolensis, Anisophyllea boehmii, Syzygium guineense, and Erythrophleum africanum. The total biomass estimated in miombo forest was 195.05 Mg ha−1 (55.02 Mg ha−1 radical and 140.04 Mg ha−1 area), with a total wood volume of 78.57 m3 ha−1. This represents values of 91.67 Mg ha−1 of accumulated carbon and 336.13 Mg ha−1 of CO2 equivalent. The potential charcoal productivity was 15,359.9 kg ha−1, corresponding to 24.78 trees ha−1. The Annual Allowable Cutting Volume was 10.77 m3 ha−1 year−1, 14.13 m3 ha−1 year−1, 21.17 m3 ha−1, and 32.85 m3 ha−1 year−1 for rotation lengths of 55, 40, 25, and 15 years, respectively, corresponding to a potential annual charcoal productivity of 2107.08 Kg ha−1 year−1, 2762.96 Kg ha−1 year−1, 4139.21 Kg ha−1, and 422.56 Kg ha−1 year−1. However, deforestation rates in the last 19 years and low charcoal productive capacity could compromise the sustainability of the Miombo ecosystem and its value as an ecosystem service provider in the province if appropriate management strategies are not developed.

Land use induced land cover changes and future scenarios in extent of Miombo woodland and Dambo ecosystems in the Copperbelt province of Zambia

AbstractThe pattern of Miombo woodland conversion to other land uses and the attendant impacts on vital Miombo ecosystems such as dambos is not well understood. Using the Copperbelt province of Zambia as a case study, we assessed the spatio‐temporal patterns of Miombo woodland and dambo conversion to other land uses between 1984 and 2016 and predicted the changes to 2050. The effects of land use land cover change (LULCC) on the extent of Miombo woodlands and dambos was determined by intersecting layers of croplands, settlements, plantations, grasslands and barelands on woodland and dambo pixels. Prediction of future LULCC was done using the land change modeller (LCM) in TerrSet. It was observed that in the period between 1984 and 2016, woodlands decreased by 17.9% while dambos increased by 4.9%. The two classes were predicted to lose 26.4% and 2.0%, respectively, by 2050. Conversion to cropland was the highest contributor to woodland loss, accounting for 57.5% of total loss by 2016, and projected to reach 67.6% by 2050. Similarly, establishment of cropland was shown to result into 53.5% (2016) and 58.9% (2050) of loss of dambos. Expansion of croplands caused a decline in woodlands and dambos. Therefore, sustainable agriculture should be adopted.

Prospects for Long-Term Agriculture in Southern Africa: Emergent Dynamics of Savannah Ecosystems from Remote Sensing Observations

Hydro-climatic resilience is an essential element of food security. The miombo ecosystem in Southern Africa supports varied land uses for a growing population. Albedo, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC), Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF), and precipitation remote-sensing data for current climate were jointly analyzed to explore vegetation dynamics and water availability feedbacks. Changes in the surface energy balance tied to vegetation status were examined in the light of an hourly albedo product with improved atmospheric correction derived for this study. Phase-space analysis shows that the albedo’s seasonality tracks the landscape-scale functional stability of miombo and woody savanna with respect to precipitation variations. Miombo exhibits the best adaptive traits to water stress which highlights synergies among root-system water uptake capacity, vegetation architecture, and landscape hydro-geomorphology. This explains why efforts to conserve the spatial structure of the miombo forest in sustainable farming of seasonal wetlands have led to significant crop yield increases. Grass savanna’s high vulnerability to water stress is illustrative of potential run-away impacts of miombo deforestation. This study suggests that phase-space analysis of albedo, SIF, and FVC can be used as operational diagnostics of ecosystem health.

Response of lion demography and dynamics to the loss of preferred larger prey.

Large carnivores are experiencing range contraction and population declines globally. Prey depletion due to illegal offtake is considered a major contributor, but the effects of prey depletion on large carnivore demography are rarely tested. We measured African lion density and tested the factors that affect survival using mark-recapture models fit to six years of data from known individuals in Kafue National Park (KNP), Zambia. KNP is affected by prey depletion, particularly for large herbivores that were preferred prey for KNP lions a half-century ago. This provides a unique opportunity to test whether variables that explain local prey density also affect lion survival. Average lion density within our study area was 3.43 individuals/100 km2 (95% CI, 2.79-4.23), which was much lower than lion density reported for another miombo ecosystem with similar vegetation structure and rainfall that was less affected by prey depletion. Despite this, comparison to other lion populations showed that age- and sex-specific survival rates for KNP lions were generally good, and factors known to correlate with local prey density had small effects on lion survival. In contrast, recruitment of cubs was poor and average pride size was small. In particular, the proportion of the population comprised of second-year cubs was low, indicating that few cubs are recruited into the subadult age class. Our findings suggest that low recruitment might be a better signal of low prey density than survival. Thus, describing a lion population's age structure in addition to average pride size may be a simple and effective method of initially evaluating whether a lion population is affected by prey depletion. These dynamics should be evaluated for other lion populations and other large carnivore species. Increased resource protection and reducing the underlying drivers of prey depletion are urgent conservation needs for lions and other large carnivores as their conservation is increasingly threatened by range contraction and population declines.

Functional traits and symbiotic associations of geoxyles and trees explain the dominance of detarioid legumes in miombo ecosystems

The miombo region in Africa is covered by a mosaic of woodlands and geoxylic grasslands and subject to disturbances like fires, frost and drought, and low nutrient availability. The dominance of Fabaceae Detarioideae species in miombo ecosystems is remarkable but little understood. We therefore compared plant functional traits (PFTs) of common woody species of the Angolan plateau, grouped by life form (trees, geoxyles), lineage (Fabaceae: Detarioideae, non-Detarioideae) and symbiont association (ectomycorrhiza, rhizobia). PFTs reflect group-specific adaptations to prevalent environmental conditions. To analyse the impact of environmental drivers, we selected PFTs reflecting ecophysiological aspects of leaf morphology, nutrient content and water transport. Traits were measured following standardized protocols. We found differences in key PFTs between trees and geoxyles reflecting both, life form specific adaptations to environmental conditions and lineage specific strategies to cope with environmental stresses. We interpret higher leaf thickness and higher wood density of geoxyles as responses to harsher open environments. Fabaceae in general and ectomycorrhizal species showed better nutrient status. Symbiotic associations of detarioid legumes with ectomycorrhiza show specific advantages for phosphorous uptake as compared to Rhizobia associated Fabaceae and to non-Fabaceae and thus may be crucial for the stunning dominance of Detarioideae in miombo landscapes.

Analysing species site-specific tree growth, mortality and in-growth for miombo woodlands in Tanzania

The silvicultural information base for the development of management regimes for Tanzanian miombo woodlands is underdeveloped. The limited and fragmented information on tree growth and stand dynamics has constrained the progress of sustainable management in these woodlands. Therefore, this study focused on analysing major components of tree growth, mortality, in-growth and stand dynamics on permanent sample plots in miombo woodlands. Empirical modelling within a species-grouping framework was applied to tree increment as a function of the species characteristics, tree size and stand conditions. An inversed J-shape diameter distribution of the stand indicated the presence of a working regeneration process, pointing towards sustainability in stand structures. The regulation of stand density is one of the key parameters in the sustainable management of miombo woodlands, providing a powerful tool for maximising in-growth, minimising mortality and enhancing tree growth and yield for a healthier miombo ecosystem.

Variations in Canopy Cover and Its Relationship with Canopy Water and Temperature in the Miombo Woodland Based on Satellite Data

Understanding the canopy cover relationship with canopy water content and canopy temperature in the Miombo ecosystem is important for studying the consequences of climate change. To better understand these relationships, we studied the satellite data-based land surface temperature (LST) as proxy for canopy temperature, leaf area index (LAI), and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as proxies for canopy cover. Meanwhile, the normalized difference infrared index (NDII) was used as a proxy for canopy water content. We used several statistical approaches including the correlated component regression linear model (CCR.LM) to understand the relationships. Our results showed that the most determinant factor of variations in the canopy cover was the interaction between canopy water content (i.e., NDII) and canopy temperature (i.e., LST) with coefficients of determination (R2) ranging between 0.67 and 0.96. However, the coefficients of estimates showed the canopy water content (i.e., NDII) to have had the largest percentage of the interactive effect on the variations in canopy cover regardless of the proxy used i.e., LAI or NDVI. From 2009–2018, the NDII (proxy for canopy water content) showed no significant (at alpha level 0.05) trend. However, there was a significant upward trend in LST (proxy for canopy temperature) with a magnitude of 0.17 °C/year. Yet, the upward trend in LST did not result in significant (at alpha level 0.05) downward changes in canopy cover (i.e., proxied by LAI and NDVI). This result augments the observed least determinant factor characterization of temperature (i.e., LST) on the variations in canopy cover as compared to the vegetation water content (i.e., NDII).

What factors influence the occurrence of Cubitermes pallidiceps in miombo woodlands in southwestern Burundi?

In Africa, not only large number of termite species remain to be described, but also ecological studies on the termite fauna of the continent are scarce. For instance, the mechanisms underlying termite mounds distribution in ecosystems stay poorly known. The main goal of this study was to assess what determines the distribution of soil-feeding termites playing an important role in the recycling of organic matter. The case of Cubitermes pallidiceps (Sjöstedt) (Isoptera: Cubitermitinae) was taken as a model. In Rumonge Forest, a woodland miombo of 600 ha in southwestern Burundi, we collected soil samples and data on tree density and diameter in 18 sites, six of which were home to mounds of C. pallidiceps. Multiple logistic regressions were used to evaluate the influence of soil properties and elevation on the occurrence of C. pallidiceps. Spatial autocorrelation structure in the model residuals was corrected by the integration of selected spatial predictors generated with the Moran’s eigenvectors maps (MEM) method. C. pallidiceps was present in areas where the tree density was low, therefore with a more opened canopy, probably to avoid fires. Those areas would also provide it a favourable microclimate through direct solar radiation. It was absent in stony places such as hill tops, probably because of food limitation. Soil with high sand content and the highest measured clay content seemed to favour Cubitermes occurrence. Its distribution was also influenced by undetermined spatially structured variables, which could correspond to unmeasured environmental variables such as soil nutrient or toxic elements, or variables related to dispersal abilities or biotic interactions with other species. Our results suggested that soil termites would have evolved in miombo ecosystems to avoid areas with a high physiological and physical cost. Understanding ecological adaptation of soil termites in this stressful environment is important for restoration and management of their habitats.

Quantifying nutrient re-distribution from nutrient hotspots using camera traps, indirect observation and stable isotopes in a miombo ecosystem, Tanzania

Nutrient hotspots strongly attract mammalian herbivores in nutrient-poor habitats such as savanna systems. However, little is known about their seasonal importance for mammalian herbivore species, particularly grazers. In addition, no study has fully quantified the potential re-distribution of nutrients into the surroundings of these hotspots. We assessed nutrient hotspot (i.e., grazing lawns and termite mounds) use by herbivores in a Miombo ecosystem of the Issa valley, Tanzania, using dung counts, camera traps and stable isotope analyses over a one year period, from May 2016 to October 2017. We conducted dung counts along four transects each radiating away from ten termite mounds and six grazing lawns as well as in 16 control sites 100 m away from each nutrient hotspot. In addition, we sprayed grasses around five termite mounds with urea and traced the isotopic signature back in grazing herbivore dung. Grazer dung deposition was twice as high in hotspot areas vs control sites. A total of 32 camera stations recorded 244 wildlife encounters, with mammalian herbivores using hotspot areas four times more frequently compared to control plots. Stable isotope analyses highlighted that dung deposited by mammalian grazers around hotspots likely originated from grasses within or close to hotspot areas, indicating that grazers are responsible for maintaining nutrient stability of these hotspots. We, therefore, emphasize the importance of grazing mammal species for the long-term persistence of hotspots and, thus, their contribution to the maintenance of a heterogeneous landscape within the Miombo ecosystem.

The importance of nutrient hotspots for grazing ungulates in a Miombo ecosystem, Tanzania.

While movement patterns of grazing ungulates are strongly dependent on forage quality their use of nutrient hotspots such as termite mounds or grazing lawns has rarely been quantified, especially in savanna ecosystems where soil-nutrient quality is low. Additionally, few experiments have been conducted to determine the role of termite mound- and grazing lawn-derived soils in improving forage quality in the field. We studied wild ungulate grazing activities around ten termite mounds, six grazing lawns and their respective control sites in a Miombo system of Issa Valley, western Tanzania, in the same system. We used indirect observations (i.e., dung, tracks) to identify seasonal and spatial variations in habitat use of various wild mammalian grazers. Grazer visitation rates were nine and three times higher on termite mounds and grazing lawns, respectively, compared to control sites. During the rainy season, termite mounds were more frequently used than grazing lawns while the latter were used more often during the dry season. In an additional pot experiment with soils derived from different areas, we found that Cynodon dactylon in termite mound-derived soils had twice as high Nitrogen and Phosphorous contents and biomass compared to grasses planted in grazing lawn soils and control site soils. We highlight that both termite mounds and grazing lawns play a significant role in influencing seasonal nutrient dynamics, forage nutrient quality, habitat selectivity, and, hence, grazing activities and movement patterns of wild ungulate grazers in savannas. We conclude that termite mounds and grazing lawns are important for habitat heterogeneity in otherwise nutrient–poor savanna systems.

Incipient signs of genetic differentiation among African elephant populations in fragmenting miombo ecosystems in south‐western Tanzania

AbstractHabitat fragmentation can play a major role in the reduction of genetic diversity among wildlife populations. The Ruaha‐Rungwa and Katavi‐Rukwa ecosystems in south‐western Tanzania comprise one of the world's largest remaining African savannah elephant metapopulations but are increasingly threatened by loss of connectivity and poaching for ivory. To investigate the genetic structure of populations, we compared the genotypes for nine microsatellite loci in the western, central and eastern populations. We found evidence of genetic differentiation among the three populations, but the levels were low and mostly concerned the younger cohort, suggesting recent divergence probably resulting from habitat loss between the two ecosystems. We identified weak isolation by distance, suggesting higher gene flow among individuals located less than 50 km apart. In a long‐lived species with overlapping generations, it takes a long time to develop genetic substructure even when there are substantial obstacles to migration. Thus, in these recently fragmented populations, inbreeding (and the loss of heterozygosity) may be less of an immediate concern than the loss of adults due to illegal hunting.

Edaphic and climatic factors and the nutrient dynamics in Uapaca kirkiana dominated miombo woodland agroforestry ecosystems

Soil and foliar analysis were used to investigate influence of edaphic and climatic factors on the soil–plant nutrient dynamics in Uapaca kirkiana dominated woodland ecosystem in Zimbabwe. Examination of the relationship between soil factors and foliar nutrient concentrations as analysed by multiple regression analysis showed that between 60 and 97% of the variations in foliar nutrient concentrations during the wet period, with the exception of nitrogen, could be explained by soil factors: soil nutrient content, texture and pH. In the dry winter period, influence of these soil factors on foliar nutrient content was in the range between 48 and 97%. Factors that had significant influence (P < 0.05) were particularly exhibited during the wet period and these were those influencing foliar P, Fe, Mn and Zn. Multiple regression analysis between climatic factors and foliar nutrients showed temperature had a statistically significant negative relationship with Fe whilst precipitation had a highly significant positive relationship with Fe during the dry winter period. Correlation between foliar Fe and rainfall was negatively statistically significant during the rainy period (P < 0.05) and became positively statistically highly significant during the dry period (P < 0.01). There was also a highly statistically significant negative relationship between the total annual rainfall and foliar nitrogen during the dry winter period. Findings of the study highlight importance of both soil and climatic factors on soil–plant nutrient dynamics in the miombo ecosystem, and should therefore be taken into consideration when establishing U. kirkiana in an agroforestry system.

Estimating soil organic and aboveground woody carbon stock in a protected dry Miombo ecosystem, Zimbabwe: Landsat 8 OLI data applications

Accurate and reliable soil organic carbon stock estimation is critical in understanding forest role to regional carbon cycles. So far, the total carbon pool in dry Miombo ecosystems is often under-estimated. In that regard this study sought to model the relationship between the aboveground woody carbon pool and the soil carbon pool, using both ground-based and remote sensing methods. To achieve this objective, the Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) computed from the newly launched Landsat 8 OLI satellite data were used. Correlation and regression analysis were used to relate Soil Organic Carbon (S.O.C), aboveground woody carbon and remotely sensed vegetation indices. Results showed a soil organic carbon in the upper soil layer (0–15 cm) was positively correlated with aboveground woody carbon and this relationship was significant (r = 0.678; P < 0.05) aboveground carbon. However, there were no significant correlations (r = −0.11, P > 0.05) between SOC in the deeper soil layer (15–30 cm) and aboveground woody carbon. These findings imply that (relationship between aboveground woody carbon and S.O.C) aboveground woody carbon stocks can be used as a proxy to estimate S.O.C in the top soil layer (0–15 cm) in dry Miombo ecosystems. Overall, these findings underscore the potential and significance of remote sensing data in understanding savanna ecosystems contribution to the global carbon cycle.

"PATTERNS OF FOREST LOSS IN ONE OF AFRICA’S LAST REMAINING WILDERNESS AREAS: NIASSA NATIONAL RESERVE (NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE) "

Niassa National Reserve (NNR) supports Mozambique's largest populations of endangered fauna and sustains the livelihoods of > 40,000 people who utilise its natural resources. Accurately monitoring finescale spatial and temporal trends in land-use and tree-cover is increasingly used for monitoring the ecological state of conservation areas. Here we provide essential information on land-use changes in NNR to support ongoing conservation efforts in the region. We examined patterns of forest and woodland loss in NNR between 2001 and 2014 using high resolution maps of global tree-cover change, and compared this with changes in the wider region. We found that NNR lost 108 km of forest (0.9 per cent of its 11,970 km aggregated forest extent), with the majority (89 km) of forest loss occurring due to expanding agriculture around settlements and along main roads. Although this loss was substantial, it was lower than changes in the surrounding region, with the adjacent districts and Provinces losing 200 km (3.2 per cent) and 6,594 km (5.7 per cent) of their respective forest extents. We found NNR's diverse Miombo ecosystems are still intact and could support large mega-faunal assemblages, investment in ensuring the long-term success of NNR is an obvious global conservation priority.

Estimating Soil Carbon Stocks in a Dry Miombo Ecosystem Using Remote Sensing

The total carbon pool in dry Miombo ecosystems is often underestimated. This study sought to close this gap by modelling the relationship between the above ground fresh woody biomass carbon pool and the soil carbon pool using both ground based methods and remote sensing methods. A total of thirty (30 m × 30 m) plots were randomly selected within the study area. Tree height and diameter at breast height (dbh) are the vegetation characteristics, which were measured in the present study. These variables were later used to calculate the above ground fresh biomass carbon per hectare. Soil samples were randomly collected from five points within the plots. The soil samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC). Three remotely sensed vegetation indices are-Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), which were calculated using geometrically and radiometrically corrected Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) satellite images. Correlation and regression analysis were used to quantify the relationship between SOC, above ground fresh woody biomass carbon and remotely sensed vegetation indices. Results showed that, above ground fresh woody biomass carbon was significantly related to SOC in the top soil layer (0-15 cm) and not the deeper soil layer (15-30 cm). The significant positive relationship between above ground fresh woody biomass carbon and SOC suggests that, above ground fresh woody biomass carbon can be used as a proxy to estimate SOC in the top soil layer (0-15 cm) in dry Miombo ecosystems. Remotely sensed vegetation indices were not significantly (p>0.05) related to the SOC regardless of depth. This result implies that further work is needed before multi-spectral optical remote sensing can be used as a tool to estimate SOC in dry Miombo ecosystems.

Anthropogenic Drivers of Forest Change in Miombo Ecosystems of South-eastern Tanzania: Implications for REDD+

As the basic purpose of REDD+ is to avoid deforestation and forest degradation, a good understanding of processes that cause deforestation is obviously of importance. However, many REDD+ programs and policies have rather limited focus on the underlying processes behind forest change. Much of the on-going work within the REDD+ framework focus on building institutional capacity (‘REDD readiness'), finding ways or measuring and monitoring carbon, developing institutional facilities, and on the international financing of REDD+. It appears that the discussion of what actually causes deforestation is seen as a more or less resolved and settled issue. This paper argues for a more contextualized understanding of the drivers of forest change in human-dominated Miombo ecosystems of southern Tanzania. This is achieved through addressing two basic empirical research questions: How is the forest changing; and what factors influence forest change? The study is based on quantitative and qualitative data covering both socio-economic and ecological aspects collected in 12 villages of Kilwa and Lindi districts in southern Tanzania. The study shows that there are considerable micro-level variations from village to village as regard both the extent and drivers of deforestation/forest degradation.