Utilization of <i>Dalbergia melanoxylon</i> (guill. & perr.) in Tanzania: a case study of Nachingwea district

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the current status and uses of Dalbergia melanoxylon (Guill. & Perr.) in Nachingwea district. Data collection was done using two methods; forest inventory and social survey. Forest inventory data were collected from a total of 44 sample plots, which were laid out on general land forest. Parameters determined included height, stems per hectare, basal area per hectare, volume per hectare and diameter classes. Social data were collected using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and questionnaires. Microsoft Excel was used to analyse inventory data while social data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study identified 103 tree species. The number of stems, basal area and volume per hectare for D. melanoxylon were found to be 20, 1.2 m2 and 8.6 m3 respectively. The stems were distributed in five diameter classes. The species contributed 8.3% by volume out of all tree species. The number of stems, basal area and volume per hectare for other tree species were 507, 14 m2 and 103.7 m3 respectively. It was found that in 1999 about 1,500 m3 or 37% of harvested D. melanoxylon in the country was exported in the form of carvings and timber. Internationally, the main use of D. melanoxylon is for the manufacture of musical instruments. The remaining 63% were used locally as building poles, fuel wood, charcoal, for manufacturers of household utensils and carving. Seventy eight percent of people in Nachingwea district did not prefer D. melanoxylon for fuel wood or house construction. The study concluded that there was inadequate control of timber harvesting activities, lack of awareness of the value and importance of D. melanoxylon and lack of inventory on D. melanoxylon. It is recommended that forestry and environmental education programmes be provided to communities in Tanzania and national inventory for the species be carried out in order to know the existing stock and prescribe sustainable harvesting regimes.

TJFNC Vol. 75 2004: pp. 29-36