Forests and woodlands of Mozambique in the light of socio-economic and political changes | Forestry in a changing political environment: Challenges for the 21st century
1997
Lorbach, I. | Pelembe, G. V. | Moyo, S.
About 70% of the total land area of Mozambique is covered by a wide range of forest and woodland ecosystems. All of them contribute to the national and subsistence economy. Timber producing forests of the north and central parts of the country supply domestic forest industries and also yield high value species for export. Mangroves are the reproduction habitat of shellfish, the country's most important contributor to foreign exchange earnings. Vast areas of miombo and other woodland formations sustain the livelihoods of rural people in providing land for family agriculture as well as fuel and construction material and non wood products. Deforestation is not a national problem, but has occurred locally as a consequence of population movements and security restrictions caused by the civil war. In the post-war phase (since 1992), spontaneous and planned resettlement has been taking place, with a rising demand for land by smallholders who lack means for agricultural intensification through external inputs. The country's new economic policy is shifting away from state domination to free market economy. Former state forest industries are expected to operate more efficiently as private enterprises which wi11 increase logging activity. As private investment in commercial agriculture and tourism is encouraged, woodland areas not specifically protected by the law are likely to be converted to other land-use forms. Challenges and options for sustainable utilisation of forest ecosystems include the settling of tenure questions in a revised forest land legislation, integrating timber exploitation with silvicultural management and the involvement of local communities in the management of woodlands.
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