Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Concern Worldwide

Project Code: 063-680-029	Start Date: 01-Apr-92	End Date: 01-Mar-97
Commitment: £196,342	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Malangali Division can be divided into two main zones: The higher Mufindi plateau (1600-1800m) on the east, wih annual rainfall of 1,000mm and the lower Mufindi plateau (1200-1600m) in the west with annual rainfall of 750mm. Extensive areas of natural forest still remain in the Division. An area of 325sq.km of mature Brachystegia-Julbernardia woodland including Pterocarpus angolensis occurs in the north-west, Commiphora and Combretum are common in the bush land or bushed grassland of the drier areas, whilst on the eastern highland plateau Uapaca kirkiana and Parinari curatellifolia predominate. Pterocarpus angolensis is the species of highest commercial value. The timber (a mohogany) is used for furniture and flooring. A small scale pit sawing industry exploits this valuable resource in a few villages. The present use of the miombo (natural) woodlands varies with their proximity to villages. Areas close to villages are heavily cut-over, leaving few trees in the dominant layer. More intact areas are found further away from villages, but these are also subject to cutting especially the trees of high commercial value ie hard woods. In 1985 Concern commenced a small scale reaforestation project in the area. In the first year 21,000 seedlings were planted this has risen to the 175,000 now being planted (90/91) annually. These activities have created an increased awareness among the local population of the benefits of forestry. The project intends to utilise this heightened interest to continue with village-based social forestry activities and to introduce improved management systems for the natural woodlands, so that they may be harvested on a sustainable basis. Efforts will also be made to introduce sustainable land use practices which inevidably means close co-ordination with the agriculture livestock sectors in the area.

Project Objectives:
The wider objectives of the project are: To increase the availability and accessibility to the targetted farming families of fuelwood and wood products To promote sustainable land use practices. The immediate objectives are: To provide education for target groups on the values of forestry To improve the management of miombo woodlands The propagation of indigenous species To promote tree planting by individual farmers including amenity, boundary, shelter belt and fuel wood planting To establish school fuelwood plots To introduce sustainable land use practices, eg. contour bunding, agroforestry, land rehabilitation To decentralise seedling production.

Intended Outputs:
Functional tree committees: Tree committees assume responsibilities for forestry activities in their village. They receive 'in-field' training and encouragement. Their duties are as outlined below:- (i) to supervise tree planting in their villages including, schools, missions, individual and communal planting. (ii) To set targets of numbers and species of seedlings required in the village, and to supervise distribution. (iii) To protect natural woodlands/trees, and set aside land for tree planting. (iv) To keep records of tree planting and survival percentages. (v) To suggest and implement village bye-laws e.g. fire control and livestock control. (vi) To supervise and encourage small nurseries. A well motivated effective extension team: Management Training is organised for project supervisors. Extension and nursery workers attend a one week field study tour combined with residential training. Their effectiveness is increased by the supply of transport and other essential inputs. Trained teachers: One teacher per school and four Education Ward Secretaries attend seminars in the project area. Tree planting: Trees are planted by farmers, school and villages. Good planting techniques are encouraged. A survival rate of more than 65 percent is targetted. An increasing number of seedlings are raised in secondary nurseries (20 percent in year 1 rising to 40 percent in year 3). These nurseries are owned and run by individual farmers, schools, church groups or village authorities. The organisation and administration is very flexible to accomodate the local situation. Land protected by soil conservation structures: Farmers (130 per year) construct bunding on their land. Forest management plans are drawn up for the three villages Kwatwanga, Kiponda and Ihowanza (one per year) to improve the management of natural woodlands. This involves accurate demarcation, inventory, and mensuration. The final plans detail future activities such as harvesting, enrichment planting etc., so as to optimize sustainable yield. Two management plans annually are compiled for school woodlots to improve the management of planted woodlots. Owners of existing woodlots are instructed on weedling, fire breaks, pruning, coppicing, etc. Tree seedlings: Seedlings (250,000, 350,000 and 450,000) are produced in years 1,2 and 3 respectively. Availability of indigenous tree seedlings: Efforts are made to propagate indigenous species of high value eg Acacia albida, Afzelia quanzensis, Pterocarpus angolensis. Woodlots: Each school plants 0.2 ha annually. Land rehabilitation commences on 60 ha. of land (Tambalang'ombe, Nyanyembe, Idumulavanu). This includes exclusion of livestock, bunding, check-dam construction, tree planting, and reseeding of grasses. A grass multiplication unit of 0.8 ha is established to produce grasses for planting out for erosion control and bund stabilisation.