%0 Journal Article
%T Management, Growth, and Carbon Storage in Miombo Woodlands of Tanzania
%A Z. J. Lupala
%A L. P. Lusambo
%A Y. M. Ngaga
%J International Journal of Forestry Research
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/629317
%X Despite the local livelihoods support function provided by miombo woodlands of Tanzania under participatory forest management, its growth still has potential for carbon storage and sequestration attractive to REDD+ initiatives. This study has revealed the average growth to be significant, despite the local community livelihoods support function. However, climate change mitigation strategy needs to be more innovative to optimize carbon storage and local livelihoods¡¯ potentials in forest-dependent communities like miombo woodlands. Carbon credits resulting from the increased carbon stock and sequestration should contribute to sustainable development. This should also help promote participatory forest management and secure miombo woodland products and services upon which billions of people depend. 1. Introduction Forests and woodlands are sinks and reservoirs which naturally absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) [1]. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere causing global warming [2]. The gas is stored in the biomass and soil; therefore, forests and woodlands help to mitigate the challenges of climate change [2, 3]. Moreover, livelihoods of significant number of people depend on forests and woodlands through provision of many forest products and environmental services [4]. They also conserve biodiversity [5] and cultural and spiritual values [6, 7]. The discussion about carbon storage and sequestration in forests and woodlands among other climate change mitigation options is increasing [8, 9]. This is mainly due to its cost-effectiveness compared to many engineering solutions [10¨C12]. Land use change and forest management were included in the post-Kyoto Protocol and are being discussed in several meetings and reports of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [1, 8, 9]. The discussion has raised the increasing demand to maintain and enhance carbon storage and sequestration capacity of forests and woodlands [1, 13]. Tropical forests including miombo woodlands are major component of the world¡¯s forests, covering over half of the African continent [14¨C16]. The woodlands cover between 2.7 and 3.6 million km2 of eastern and southern Africa [17, 18]. The coverage represents an important plant diversity center with over 8,500 species [5, 19]. Miombo woodlands account for about 30% of the primary production of all terrestrial vegetation, playing crucial role in energy, local livelihoods, and carbon balance [16, 20]. This forest type is encompassing 90% of forested lands of Tanzania, out of the total forested area of about 35.3 million ha
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/2014/629317/