Miombo ecology and management : an introduction

Miombo forest occurs in a swathe across central and southern Africa, including parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zaire, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

It is rich in tree life, and has enormous value as a wildlife habitat.

Traditionally shifting cultivators have farmed in miombo, and allowed it to regenerate, but increasingly the demands for fuelwood have resulted in deforestation.

This text provides comprehensive details of the climate, environment, ecology and species characteristics of miombo, and describes methods for assessing the timber and other resources, through inventories, in order to use the forest sustainably.

Management guidelines give practical advice on propagation and harvesting techniques, as well as discussing how to design plans to conserve biodiversity and to protect water catchments.