Project Background

Increasing population pressure and a series of devastating droughts have brought about deforestation and severe land degradation over extensive areas in Africa. In many parts the most useful tree species from the climax plant communities have gone without prospect re-establishment in a foreseeable future. Trees are needed to integrate into agricultural systems to provide fuelwood, fodder and shelter and to rehabilitate degraded land and particularly to increase the productivity of non-arable land. exotic species have rarely proved to be a solution in this situation and the solution is increasingly being sought among the natural pioneers, particularly the acacias whose genetic potential to resolve these issues was recognised in the early 1980s.

Project Objectives

The use of trees within farming systems, including community and farm woodlots, optimised.

Intended Outputs

• Acacia trials established maintained and utilised.
• Early performance determined.
• Productivity from natural stands quantified.
• The current and potential use of six acacia species in small holder agricultural systems in the semi-arid zones of Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, evaluated.