





























In ternationa l
Scholars
Journa ls

 

African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management ISSN 2375-0707 Vol. 9 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 
2021. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 
 

 

Full Length Research Paper 

 

The role of the Miombo Woodlands of the 

Southern Highlands of Tanzania as carbon sinks 

 
P. K. T. Munishi*, S. Mringi, D. D. Shirima and S. K. Linda 

 
Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, 

P. O. Box 3010, Morogoro, Tanzania. 
 

Accepted 18 October, 2020 
 

Inventory and monitoring of existing carbon pools in ecosystems is important for establishment of 
baselines for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) as well as 
understanding the global carbon budget. We used tree dimensions to quantify the carbon pools of two 
sites in Miombo woodlands of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Mean above ground carbon 

density of the Miombo ecosystem was 19.2t ha
-1

. Of the total carbon, 40 and 60% was contributed by 

stems and branches respectively. Different species contributed differently to carbon stocks in these 
ecosystems with Brachystegia spiciformis and Julbernardia globiflora contributing the most. The 
estimated carbon stocks in this ecosystem is within the range observed in dry forests elsewhere 
though they are in their early stages of regeneration after extensive exploitation pressure. Under 
proper management there is a tremendous capacity for carbon storage in these Miombo woodlands to 
mitigate carbon emissions. Since Miombo species tend to invest much in roots an assessment of 
below ground carbon in roots can add to the carbon storage potential of these ecosystems. Evaluation 
of the root and soil carbon in these ecosystems is important in determining the full potential of these 
ecosystems to act as carbon sink. 

 
Key words: Miombo woodlands, biomass, carbon, reduced emissions from deforestation and forest 

degradation, emission mitigation, climate change. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
The rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concen-

tration will have varying implications on global climate 
(Wayburn, 2000; Munishi et al., 2000; Munishi and Shear, 
2004). Land use changes and forest management 
activities have historically been and are currently net 

sources of carbon (C) as CO2 gas to the atmosphere 

(Brown et al., 1996). However, depending on land use 
system, different ecosystems can be important sources or 
sinks for carbon (Levy et al., 2004).  

There is a historical controversy as whether terrestrial 
ecosystems are releasing carbon to the atmosphere or 
withdrawing it and accumulating it in vegetation biomass 
and soils (Broecker et al., 1979; Houghton et al., 1987; 
Kauppi et al., 1992; Wisniewski et al., 1993). It is  
 
 
 
*Corresponding author. E-mail: pmunishi2001@yahoo.com. 

 
 
 
 
 
however, widely known that terrestrial ecosystems in 
general play a major role in the global carbon budget and 
fluxes (Brown, 1997, 1999; Dixon, 1996; Munishi, 2001; 
Munishi and Shear, 2004). Previous analyses have 
suggested that land vegetation contain as much carbon 
as present in the atmosphere. Furthermore, as much as 
10% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide could be taken up 
and released annually by vegetation. Others suggest that 
terrestrial vegetation must be a source of carbon because 
deforestation proceeds faster than forest re-growth 
(Houghton et al., 1987).  

Land use changes and forest management activities 
have high potential to mitigate carbon emission. Forest 
management offers one of important options for 
mitigation C emissions. Available options in forest 
management include avoiding emissions, conserving the 
existing C pools on the land (slowing down deforestation 
or improving forest harvesting), reduced deforestation 



 
 
 

 

and forest degradation, expanding C storage in forest 
ecosystems by increasing the area and/or carbon density 
of forests (e.g. by plantations, agro-forestry, natural 
regeneration, soil management) (Brown, 1999; Dixon et 
al., 1994; Dixon, 1996; Walker et al., 2008), increasing 
storage in durable wood products and substituting 
sustainably grown wood for energy intensive and cement 
based products (e.g. bio-fuels, construction materials) 
(Koluchigina et al., 1995; Winjum et al., 1998).  

Terrestrial ecosystems especially forest vegetation 
have the greatest potential for mitigating atmospheric 

CO2 emissions through conservation and management 
(Brown et al., 1996; Munishi et al., 2000; Munishi and 
Shear, 2004) . Changes in forest cover, use, and 

management, produce sources and sinks of CO 2 that is 
exchanged with the atmosphere (Heygreen and Bowler, 
1989; Jackson, 1992; Chidumayo, 1993). Assessment 
and monitoring of the existing carbon pools in forest 
ecosystems is important for understanding the global 
carbon budget especially when such ecosystems are 
relatively extensive and cover large areas.  

Forest ecosystems in Tanzania occupy more than 35% 
of the land area (MNRT, 1998) and more than one third of 
this is occupied by the Miombo woodlands (MNRT, 1998; 
Monela et al., 2005). The Miombo ecosystem is one of 
the tropical wildernesses in the world covering about 3.6 

million km
2
 and spanning ten countries in East and 

Central Africa. In Africa Miombo woodlands cover an area 

of 2.7 mill. km
2
 extending from Angola, Kongo, Zambia, 

Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. In 
Tanzania it covers about two thirds of the country 
(Fyhrquist, 2005). The vegetation of this area is primarily 
woodland, dominated by trees in the legume sub-family 
Ceasalpinoideae with the genera Brachystegia, 
Julbernardia and Isoberlinia dominating and a well-
developed underlying layer of grass. The dominance of 
one family of trees provides the unifying feature for this 
ecosystem (Frost, 1996; Chidumayo, 1990; WWF, 2003). 
The miombo ecosystem contains a diverse of major 
woodland types including Wet Miombo, Dry Miombo, 
Burkea-Terminalia Woodlands, Baikiaea Woodland, 
Mopane Woodland, Acacia-Combretum Woodland, Dry 
Evergreen Forests (Cryptosepalum). The Miombo 
woodlands are however, undergoing the greatest change 
in Tanzania due to heavy use for supply of fuel wood and 
other sources of energy (Mapaure and Campbell, 2002). 
Although, the Miombo woodlands ecosystems of 
Tanzania are likely to have high potential for carbon 

storage and mitigating CO2 emissions, reliable estimates 

for their potential are few and inadequate.  
An analysis of the potential of the Miombo woodland 

ecosystems to sequester or store carbon is a key to 
understanding whether the correctives measures taken in 
land use changes and forest management within the 
Miombo woodland biome are likely to create net carbon 
sources or sinks. Such assessments are also funda-
mental in quantifying pathways for ecosystem carbon 
fluxes and sequestration in the Miombo woodlands. In 

 
 
 
 

 

this study estimate of the biomass and carbon pools of a 
Miombo woodland ecosystem in Southern Tanzania was 
made using relatively easily measured tree dimensions 
like Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Such estimates are 
important in designing management plans for the Miombo 
woodlands that will ensure a sustained potential of this 
ecosystem’s contribution to emission mitigation. 
Specifically carbon prediction models for Miombo 
woodlands of Southern Tanzania were developed using 
tree DBH as the predictor variable and the models were 
then use to make estimates of the biomass and carbon 
storage of the ecosystem. 

 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Study site 
 
Mbozi district in Mbeya region is located in the South western 
corner of Mbeya region, between latitudes 8 and 9° 12" South of the 
equator and longitudes 32° 7' 30" and 33° 2' 0" East of Greenwich 
Meridian. To the South district is bordered by Ileje District, to the 
East by Mbeya rural District at the mark of Songwe river, to the 
north, Mbozi district extends to Lake Rukwa where it is bordered by 
Chunya District, whereas to the west it shares borders with Rukwa 
region and the Republic of Zambia. Mbozi District is composed of 6 
divisions namely Igamba (1,754 ha), Iyula (900 ha), Kamsamba 
(2,708 ha), Msangano (821 ha), Ndalambo (2,454 ha) and Vwawa 
(750 ha) (Figure 1). 

Two sites were selected based on the extent of Miombo 
vegetation in the region. Longisonte forest reserve is located in 
Vwawa division and Zelezeta village forest reserve in Igamba 
division. Both forests are a local authority forest reserves with an 
area of 1,041 and 220 ha respectively. These forests are mainly 
composed of Miombo woodlands dominated by genera Brachystegi, 
Julbernadia and Isoberhinia species (Mzoma et al., 1995). The 
forests have other associate species to these genera such as 
Uapaca kirkiana and Parinari excelsa. The climate of the area is 
bimodal with a rain season in October to May and a dry season in 
June to September. Most of the area is dominated by clay soils with 
high swelling and shrinkage characteristics 

 
Data collection 
 
A total of 30 temporary circular sample plots of radius 15 m (0.02 
ha) were established systematically in each of the two sites. All 
trees with DBH 6 cm were measured for DBH. Each tree was 
identified in both the scientific and local name. For trees that were 
not identifiable in the field voucher specimens were collected for 
confirmation with an assistance of a taxonomist. Trees whose 
scientific names could not be ascertained were reported by their 
vernacular names. Based on species composition and dominance a 
total of 15 sample trees in each site were selected and measured 
for DBH. The trees were then felled, separated into stems and 
branches and then crosscut into billets that could be weighed. The 
billets were then tied into bundles and weighed in the field to obtain 
field tree weights of branches and stems. Finally two discs of about 
2 cm thickness were crosscut from the stem and branch for 
laboratory analysis of basic density and biomass ratio. 
 

 
Data analysis 
 
The stem and branch discs from the field were cut into small 

samples of 2 x 2 cm, then soaked in water for one week and 



   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Study site 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 1. Map showing the study site within Tanzania (adopted and modified from Fyhrquist et al., 2002). 
 
 

 
weighed for green weight. The samples were then oven dried at 
103 ± 2°C to a constant dry weight. The biomass ratio was 
computed as the ratio of the oven dry weight to green weight for 
each tree stem and branch samples. The biomass ratio was used to 
convert the field tree weight (stem and branches) into biomass for 
the sample trees. We determined tree biomass through regression 
models using the diameter DBH as predictor variable for each 
component (Chamshama et al., 2004; Malimbwi et al., 1994; 
Munishi et al., 2000, Munishi and Shear, 2004).  

Carbon prediction models were developed for each component 

 
 
 

 
using the diameter DBH as predictor variable (Haygreen and 
Bowler, 1989; Jackson, 1992; Malimbwi et al., 1994; Munishi et al., 
2000) . Although, other variables may influence carbon storage in 
trees, DBH is the most significant and easily measured predictor 
variable for biomass accumulation in forestry systems (Haygreen 
and Bowler, 1989; Jackson, 1992; Malimbwi et al., 1994; Munishi et 
al., 2000, Munishi and Shear, 2004). These equations were used to 
predict carbon storage (t/ha) by above ground vegetation from the 
plot tree diameter data. The amount of carbon was computed by 
multiplying the biomass by 50% and converted into per ha basis 



 
 
 

 
Table 1. Carbon prediction models for stems and branches in Miombo woodlands in Mbozi District, Southern Highlands of 

Tanzania. 
 

Location  Dependent variable  Model R
2
  P 

 

Vwawa (Longisonte) 
 Stem carbon  0.0069DBH

2.9756
 0.66 0.0001*** 

 

 

Branch carbon 
 

0.0489DBH
2.1623

 0.46 0.0001*** 
 

   
 

Igamba (Zelezeta) 

 Stem carbon  0.0172DBH
2.5702

 0.71 0.0001*** 
 

 Branch carbon  0.5606DBH
2.4067

 0.34  0.0001*** 
  

*** = significant at 0.99 confidence limit. 
 
 

 
Table 2. Carbon storage potential in Miombo woodlands at Longisonte and Zelezeta forest reserves in 

Mbozi District, Southern Highlands of Tanzania. 
 

 
Location 

 Carbon density (t ha
-1

)  
 

 

Stem % Branch % Total 
 

  
 

 Vwawa (Longisonte) 9.5 53 8.5 47 17.9 
 

 Igamba (Zelezeta) 5.7 28 14.6 72 20. 4 
 

 Average 7.6 40 11.5 60 19.2 
 

 
 

 
(Haygreen and Bowler, 1989; Munishi and Shear, 2004) . The 
estimates for stem and branches were done independently using 
respective models for each stem and branches to avoid cumulative 
errors that could result from an estimate of one parameter from 
another parameter. 
 

 

RESULTS 

 

Allometric models for carbon prediction 

 

Table 1 shows the allometric models developed to 
estimate the amount of carbon stored by the Miombo 
woodlands ecosystem in the two sites. Though the 
models are all significant the branch biomass prediction 
models seem not to be strong enough to correctly predict 
the biomass of the tree branches. However, given the 
variations that exist in trees within these ecosystems the 
models can be used as the first approximation of tree 
stem and branch biomass in these ecosystems. 
 

 

Carbon content of the Miombo ecosystem 
 

We estimated above ground tree carbon to be 20.4 t ha
-1

 

for the Zelezeta and 17.9t ha
-1

 for Longisonte forest 
reserves. This makes an average carbon density of 19.2 t 

ha
-1

 in the ecosystem. In Longisonte forest reserve 53% 
of the carbon density comes from stems and 47% from 
branches where as in Zelezeta site 28% come from stem 
and 72% from branches. Overall stem carbon makes 
about 40% of the total carbon in the ecosystem while 
branches contribute the larger proportion of about 60% 
(Table 2 and Figure 2). 

 
 

 

Proportional contribution to C stocks by different 

species 
 
We observed differences in carbon stocks as contributed 
by different species. Julbernardia globiflora store the 
highest amount of carbon per unit area in Longisonte 
forest reserve followed by Brachystegia spiciformis, 
Uapaca kirkiana, Brachystegia bohemii and Parinari 
excelsa accounting for 66.5% of the total carbon. The 
other 13 species accounted for the remaining portion 
(33.5%) . In the Zelezeta site B. bohemii contributed the 
highest in carbon storage followed by B. spiciformis, P. 
excelsa, Albizia antunesiana and U. kirkiana. These 
species accounted for 98.1% of the total carbon while the 
remaining 5 species accounted for the remaining 
proportion.  

The four species accounting for the most carbon are 
common in Miombo woodlands in the South though the 
most common Miombo species are B. spiciformis, B. 
bohemii and J. globiflora. Uapaca and Parinari some-

times form unique associations in these ecosystems with 
Uapaca forming pure stands on well drained areas thus 

their high contribution to carbon storage in this Miombo 
ecosystems (Tables 3 - 4 and Figures 3 - 6). 
 

 

DISCUSSION 

 
We estimate carbon density in this study to an averaged 

of 19.12 t ha
-1

 and which is relatively higher than earlier 

estimates of 6.45 t ha
-1

 C for a coastal Miombo at 
Kitulanghalo forest reserve (Malimbwi et al., 1994) and a 
highland Miombo in Tabora (Backeus et al., 2006). These 



  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

C
 (

%
) 

 
 
 
70  
 
60 
 
50 

 
40 

 

30 

 
20 
 
10 

 

0  
 

m   h 
 

  c 
 

te n  
 

S  ra   
 

  B   
  

Figure 2. Percent contribution of ecosystem C by different tree parts in the Miombo 

woodlands, Southern Tanzania. 
 
 

 
Table 3. Aboveground carbon as contributed by different species in Miombo woodlands at Longisonte 

reserve, Southern Highlands of Tanzania.  
 

 
Species 

 Carbon density (t/ha)  
%  

 

Stem Branch Total 
 

   
 

 J. globiflora 2.52 1.67 4.21 23.6 
 

 B. Spiciformis 1.42 1.11 2.47 13.8 
 

 U. kirkiana 1.01 1.11 2.12 11.9 
 

 B. Bohemii 0.82 0.78 1.60 9.0 
 

 Parinari excelsa 0.72 0.75 1.48 8.3 
 

 Hymenocardia acida 0.51 0.58 1.12 6.3 
 

 Lannea schimperi 0.60 0.41 1.04 5.8 
 

 Combretum zeyherii 0.59 0.41 0.96 5.3 
 

 Crossopteryx februfugia 0.40 0.34 0.73 4.1 
 

 Pseudolachynostylis maprouneifolia 0.21 0.28 0.50 2.8 
 

 Combretum molle 0.19 0.26 0.46 2.6 
 

 Commiphora fischeri 0.18 0.21 0.39 2.2 
 

 Dalbergia nitidula 0.07 0.11 0.18 1.0 
 

 Diplorhynchus condylocarpon 0.09 0.10 0.18 1.0 
 

 Afromosia angolensis 0.05 0.08 0.13 0.7 
 

 Syzigium guineense 0.04 0.07 0.11 0.6 
 

 Commiphora mossambicensis 0.04 0.07 0.10 0.6 
 

 Lonchocarpus bussei 0.05 0.03 0.08 0.5 
 

 Total 9.49 8.36 17.86 100 
 

 
 

 

differences in carbon densities might be due to varying 

degree of exposure to human degradation, difference in 
age of the tree species and the type of Miombo 

woodlands involved. Williams et al. (2007) clearances 
due to agriculture are estimated reduce carbon stocks by 

19.0 t C ha
-1

 in Miombo woodland of Mozambique. 

 
 

 

Various studies show that different ecosystems have 
different biomass and carbon densities. For example the 
C density estimates from Afromontane Rain Forests of 
the Eastern Arc Mountains were found to be between 252 

and 581 t C ha
-1

 (Munishi, 2001; Munishi and Shear, 

2004; ECCM, 2007; Munishi and Shirima, 2010a, b). The 



 
 
 

 
Table 4. Above ground carbon as contributed by different species in miombo woodlands at Zelezeta, Mbozi 

District, Southern Highlands of Tanzania.  
 

 
Species name 

 Carbon Density (t/ha)  
% 

 

 

Stem Branch Total 
 

   
 

 B. bohemii 2.46 9.48 11.94 58.5 
 

 B. spiciformis 1.71 3.01 4.72 23.1 
 

 P. excelsa 0.74 1.04 1.78 8.8 
 

 A. antunesiana 0.41 0.52 0.93 4.6 
 

 U. kirkiana 0.28 0.37 0.65 3.2 
 

 C. molle 0.05 0.06 0.11 0.5 
 

 Cussonia arborea 0.04 0.06 0.10 0.5 
 

 Ochna ovata 0.04 0.06 0.09 0.5 
 

 Bridelia micrantha 0.03 0.04 0.07 0.4 
 

 Total 5.75 14.6.3 20.39 100.0 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

C
 (

%
) 

 
 
 

25.0  
 
20.0 

 

15.0 

 

10.0 

 

5.0 

 

0.0  

J
. 

g
lo

b
if

lo
ra

 

B
. 

s
p

ic
if

o
rm

is
 

U
. 

k
ir

k
ia

n
a

 

B
. 

b
o

h
e

m
ii

 

P
. 

e
x

c
e

ls
a

 

 
Species 

 
Figure 3. Percent contribution to ecosystem carbon by the most dominant 

species in Miombo woodlands at Longisonte Reserve in Mbozi District, Southern 

Highlands of Tanzania. 
 

 

Eastern Miombo woodlands in Tanzania have been 
shown to have C storage potential of between 25 and 80 t 

ha
-1

 (ECCM, 2007; Shirima, 2009). Brown et al. (1993) 
observed that only about 6% of mature forests in tropical 

Asia had more than 122.5 t ha
-1

 C while a 60-year 
rotation plantation of Tectona grandis (Teak) in Tanzania 

had 244 t ha
-1

 C, (O’Kting’ati et al., 1998 quoted in 
Munishi, 2001; Munishi and Shear, 2004). It is very 
possible that the amount of C stored by these 
ecosystems will be higher if other carbon pools like the 
undergrowth of herbaceous layer, litter and other organic 
debris and tree samplings with DBH below 6 cm which 
are relatively numerous in some parts of the forests were 
included. Further soil C adds much to the potential for C 

 
 

 

storage in these ecosystems. Disturbance in the study 
site due to human utilization may also have contributed to 
lowering the C stock in these forests. Forests that have 
been subjected to human disturbances tend to have 
lower biomass and hence C storage than their potential 
(Brown, 1997). 

Human destruction of tropical forests is estimated to 
contribute up to 17% of global carbon dioxide emissions, 
resulting in accelerated global warming. One mechanism 
proposed to mitigate these emissions is Reduced 
Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation 
(REDD) in developing countries, otherwise known as 
Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation 
(REDD+; that is the original concept of REDD, plus 



  
 
 

 

30  
 

25 
 

20 Stem C (t/ha) 
 

 
  

C
 (

t/
h

a
) 

 
 
15 
 
10 
 
5 

 
0 

 
 Branch C (t/ha) 

 

J
. 

g
lo

b
if

lo
ra

 

 

B
. 

s
p

ic
if

o
rm

is
 

 U
. 

k
ir

k
ia

n
a
 

B
. 

b
o

h

e
m

ii
 

P
. 
e

x
c

e
ls

a
 

 

     

     
 

      
 

       
  

Species 
 

Figure 4. Total contributions to ecosystem carbon by the stem and branches of 

the most dominant species in Miombo woodlands at Longisonte and Zelezeta 

forest reserves in Mbozi District, Southern Highlands of Tanzania. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

C
 (

%
) 

 
 

 

70  
 
60 
 
50 
 
40 
 
30 
 
20 
 
10 
 

0 
 

B
. 
b

o
h

e
m

ii
 

B
. 

s
p

ic
if

o
rm

i

s
 P
. 

e
x

c
e
ls

a
 

A
. 

a
n

tu
n

e
s
ia

n
a
 

U
. 

k
ir

k
ia

n
a
 

 
Species 

 
Figure 5. Percent contribution to ecosystem carbon by the most dominant species in 

Miombo woodlands at Longisonte and Zelezeta forest reserves in Mbozi District, 

Southern Highlands of Tanzania. 
 
 

 

sustainable management of forests and conservation and 
enhancement of forest carbon stocks). This proposed 
mechanism forms part of an international move to include 
emissions from habitat change (especially the loss of 
carbon-rich ecosystems such as forests) in a more 
comprehensive agreement under the UN Framework 

 
 
 

 

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which it is 
hoped will become operational in 2012. If an international 
REDD+ mechanism is to be successful, with minimal 
displacement of greenhouse gas emissions between 
countries (known as international leakage), it is important 
that developing countries hosting a large proportion of the 



 
 
 

 

 100                          
 

 

90 
  

                        

                        
 

 80                Stem C (t/ha)      
 

                     
 

 70                

Branch C (t/ha) 
    

 

                     

 60                   
 

)(
t/

h
a
                           

                         
 

50                          
 

                         
 

40                          
 

                          
 

C
 

30                          
 

                         
 

 20                          
 

                           

 10                          
 

 0                          
 

    B
. 

b
o

h
e

m
ii
 

   B
. 

s
p

ic
if

o
rm

is
 

   P
. 

c
u

ra
le

ll
if

o
li

a
 

   A
. 

a
n

tu
n

e
s

ia
n

a
 

U
. 

k
ir

k
ia

n
a
 

  
   

Species 
 

Figure 6. Total contributions to ecosystem carbon by the stem and branches of the 

most dominant species in Miombo woodlands at Longisonte and Zelezeta forest 

reserves in Mbozi District, Southern Highlands of Tanzania. 
 

 

world’s forest are ready to participate shortly after its 
launch.  

A key aspect of determining the carbon benefit of any 
forest carbon project is to accurately quantify the levels of 
carbon changes to known levels of precision. Deter-
mination of carbon changes requires baselines that is 
historical trends against which additional carbon benefits 
as a result of carbon project can be determined. Under 
REDD, the reference scenario will be the baseline against 
which achievements made by a country can be measured 
and credited. Possible options for crediting forest carbon 
management include reduction in emissions from 
deforestation; reduction in emissions from degradation; 
enhancement; forest conservation; and conservation of 
the existing carbon stock. The last two options relate to 
forests with long protection status which would be 
credited based on the maintenance of carbon stock which 
would be compensated through a “conservation” fund that 
would be included under REDD.  

Since the REDD policy is likely to be undertaken 
nationally, the country deforestation baseline need to be 
determined by depicting historical land use changes and 
typical carbon stock data for different types of forests to 
calculate the changes in C stocks over time.  

Assessments of carbon stocks in different land use 
systems especially forests and woodlands are therefore 
among the important national REDD - readiness activities 
that portrays the baseline information on C stocks as 
Tanzania prepares for the anticipated REDD mechanism. 
 

 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

 

Given their extent there is apparently a tremendous 

 
 

 

capacity for the Miombo ecosystem of Southern Tanzania 
to store carbon and act as C sink if properly managed. 
Efforts to ensure proper management of the Miombo 
ecosystem putting emphasis on the dominant species 
e.g. B. spiciformis, B. boehmii and P. excelsa can 
contribute to the creation of a considerable carbon sink 
and will ensure persistent potential for the Miombo 
woodlands to store C as sinks rather than emission 
sources thus contribution to the REDD process in 
Tanzania and global initiatives at large. On the other 
hand the Miombo ecosystem is widely utilized by the 
adjacent communities for various purposes, creating high 
degradation pressure on the ecosystem. In this respect 
managing the carbon stocks of these ecosystems require 
a concerted effort to reduce the human related 
degradation. This can partly be achieved by allowing the 
adjacent communities to harvest wood products from the 
forest under proper management to recover some of their 
socio-economic values and ensure local community 
participation in the management and conservation of the 
Miombo ecosystem. Such carbon can as well be a source 
of revenue from carbon trading and under proper benefit 
sharing mechanism can contribute to poverty reduction 
among the adjacent local communities. Further managing 
the carbon stocks in this extensive carbon rich ecosystem 
will contribute to global initiatives in combating global 
warming. If this is realized it will as well contribute to 
sustainable forest and woodland management in 
Tanzania. 
 

 
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