Wood usage and tree planting in Zimbabwe\'s communal lands

This study involved the collection and interpretation of data on deforestation in the Communal Lands of the Rural Afforestation Project area, on practices and attitudes of rural dwellers in their use of wood on the extent of household tree-planting of various kinds, on perceived constraints to the planting of eucalypts, and on other associated issues. The report is based primarily on a questionnaire survey of 1829 peasant households in the Project area. The Communal Lands that were included in the, survey can generally be described as being severely deforested. Since the degradation of the miombo woodland is due largely to the clearance of land for cultivation most of the residual woodland is in non-arable localities such as hilly terrain and drainage lines. Much of this deforestation occurred ever 20 years ago, and has resulted in the less discriminate use of species for fuel and construction purposes. Since deforestation is closely associated with the pattern of settlement, with least woodland in the areas of highest population density, various socio-economic factors show a geographical- correlation with woodland cover. For instance, the educational levels of respondents were highest in the most deforested areas, no doubt due to the greater provision of educational services in these areas of population concentration. This made it important to separate the influence of wood shortage from education, religion, exposure to the extension services. And other factors that might condition peoples’ attitudes and practices in wood use and tree planting. Wood is used by 99% of the surveyed households for their cooking and heating requirement; almost all cook on an open fire. In the most deforested areas, crop residues are used sometimes for cooking, but the use, of dung for this purpose is presently insignificant the major quality that is desired in at firewood species is that it should -produce good coals. Eucalypt wood has been used for cooking, by very; few households, since it is not readily available in the Communal Lands, but there is a general belief that it is not a good firewood as it does not, produce good coals.