Silviculture and management of Indigenous tree species on the Copperbelt in Zambia
1993
Malaya, F. M.
The indigenous woodlands and forests are one of Zambia's most valuable natural resources. They supply timber, charcoal, fruits and other minor forest products, and thereby provide the livelihood for a large proportion of the rural and even urban population. With a current deforestation rate of around 300 000 ha a year, the indigenous forest resources are threatened, hence the need for more research in this field. Early research into the silviculture of indigenous tree species started on the Copperbelt in the 1930s, mainly at Dola Hill then other parts of the country in isolated patches, with the intention of finding out whether artificial regeneration was possible. The various timber and fruit tree species tried at Chati have shown that the former can be established in plantations. Fruit trees have had amazing results too, with Strychnos cocculoides and Carissa edulis flowering and fruiting within 5 years after planting. The average growth in height per year for the first 10 years has a wide range (0.1 to 1.2 m/yr) depending on the species. The main management practices are early burning and controlled cutting in the indigenous forests and woodlands.
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