Illegal wood harvesting, a factor that threats conservation efforts, was assessed in Chimanimani National Park (CNP), Zimbabwe, in April 2016. The study identified preferred indigenous woody species, determined the us...Illegal wood harvesting, a factor that threats conservation efforts, was assessed in Chimanimani National Park (CNP), Zimbabwe, in April 2016. The study identified preferred indigenous woody species, determined the uses, and collected local people’s perceptions on forest resource management by-laws and forest resource conservation in quantity. A three-stage sampling design was adopted;that is, 1) purposive sampling, where three wards (Chikukwa ward 11, Chikwakwa ward 17 and Ngorima ward 5b) were selected as study areas from a total of seventeen wards in Chimanimani District, 2) random sampling, where three villages [Batanai (75 households), Chikukwa (110 households) and Tamuka (46 households)], totalling 231 households, were selected from a total of 15 villages spread over the three wards. The third stage was the random of households where 46 questionnaires were administered and collected in the 3 randomly selected villages representing 20% of the targeted population. The study results highlighted that illegally harvested indigenous woody plants were principally for household uses. Preferred woody species included those of Brachystegia, Terminalia, Acacia, Bauhinia, Pericopsis, Combretum and Pericopsis genera. Quantities collected ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 tons of firewood monthly to 3 to 6 tons mostly for tobacco curing. Most respondents reported that by-laws were not effective in combating illegal wood harvesting. It was concluded that CNP woodlands are under stress due to illegal wood harvesting. It is recommended that a robust community-based strategy to conserve woody species and natural resource utilisation be developed.展开更多
Our study focused on the effects of wood poaching on the vegetation structure and composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe. Mukuvisi Woodland, located within the precincts of Harare urban area, Zimbabwe, suffers fro...Our study focused on the effects of wood poaching on the vegetation structure and composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe. Mukuvisi Woodland, located within the precincts of Harare urban area, Zimbabwe, suffers from high illegal wood utilization pressure stemming from the need to fulfill alternative energy demands created by persistent electricity shortages and an unstable economic environment, particularly between 2000 and 2008. This results in a continuous flux of vegetation and a disturbed animal habitat driven mainly by anthropogenic activities. Due to the heterogeneity in vegetation utilisation trends, we used the stratified systematic random sampling technique, where the site was divided into two strata, central and boundary. Twelve 30 × 20 m permanent plots were established in which species name, species diversity, height, basal area, plant status, fire evidence, number of stems and saplings were recorded and assessed in April and May 2012. A total of 968 woody plants were assessed representing 47 woody plant species. All woody vegetation variables recorded and assessed showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two strata, i.e., central and boundary, in Mukuvisi Woodland, except sapling density (P = 0.022). Principal Component Analysis indicated evidence of fire impacts on vegetation structure. The study concludes that illegal wood harvesting in Mukuvisi Woodland has not yet reached alarming proportions and can be contained. The study recommends collaborative arrangements with key stakeholders, promotion of the use of alternative energy sources and increased environmental education and awareness campaigns.展开更多
文摘Illegal wood harvesting, a factor that threats conservation efforts, was assessed in Chimanimani National Park (CNP), Zimbabwe, in April 2016. The study identified preferred indigenous woody species, determined the uses, and collected local people’s perceptions on forest resource management by-laws and forest resource conservation in quantity. A three-stage sampling design was adopted;that is, 1) purposive sampling, where three wards (Chikukwa ward 11, Chikwakwa ward 17 and Ngorima ward 5b) were selected as study areas from a total of seventeen wards in Chimanimani District, 2) random sampling, where three villages [Batanai (75 households), Chikukwa (110 households) and Tamuka (46 households)], totalling 231 households, were selected from a total of 15 villages spread over the three wards. The third stage was the random of households where 46 questionnaires were administered and collected in the 3 randomly selected villages representing 20% of the targeted population. The study results highlighted that illegally harvested indigenous woody plants were principally for household uses. Preferred woody species included those of Brachystegia, Terminalia, Acacia, Bauhinia, Pericopsis, Combretum and Pericopsis genera. Quantities collected ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 tons of firewood monthly to 3 to 6 tons mostly for tobacco curing. Most respondents reported that by-laws were not effective in combating illegal wood harvesting. It was concluded that CNP woodlands are under stress due to illegal wood harvesting. It is recommended that a robust community-based strategy to conserve woody species and natural resource utilisation be developed.
文摘Our study focused on the effects of wood poaching on the vegetation structure and composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe. Mukuvisi Woodland, located within the precincts of Harare urban area, Zimbabwe, suffers from high illegal wood utilization pressure stemming from the need to fulfill alternative energy demands created by persistent electricity shortages and an unstable economic environment, particularly between 2000 and 2008. This results in a continuous flux of vegetation and a disturbed animal habitat driven mainly by anthropogenic activities. Due to the heterogeneity in vegetation utilisation trends, we used the stratified systematic random sampling technique, where the site was divided into two strata, central and boundary. Twelve 30 × 20 m permanent plots were established in which species name, species diversity, height, basal area, plant status, fire evidence, number of stems and saplings were recorded and assessed in April and May 2012. A total of 968 woody plants were assessed representing 47 woody plant species. All woody vegetation variables recorded and assessed showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two strata, i.e., central and boundary, in Mukuvisi Woodland, except sapling density (P = 0.022). Principal Component Analysis indicated evidence of fire impacts on vegetation structure. The study concludes that illegal wood harvesting in Mukuvisi Woodland has not yet reached alarming proportions and can be contained. The study recommends collaborative arrangements with key stakeholders, promotion of the use of alternative energy sources and increased environmental education and awareness campaigns.
