Paxie W. Chirwa

Contribution of agroforestry to biodiversity and livelihoods improvement in rural communities of Southern African regions

It has been widely documented that the traditional farming system of shifting cultivation contributes to huge annual losses of forest cover, altering the structure and distribution of species resulting in loss of biodiversity. On the other hand, formal institutional approaches to natural forest biodiversity conservation focused on protecting the tree species in parks and reserves while neglecting their conservation in farming systems. Improved agroforestry systems (AFS) such as improved fallows that mimic shifting cultivation and other AFS provide benefits that contribute to rural livelihoods, improved socioeconomic status and ecosystem functioning of land use systems. Recently, there is an increasing recognition of the contribution of agroforestry to improve ecosystem services and livelihoods especially in rural areas. Compared with subsistence agriculture, AFS provides added benefit by generating cash income from the marketing of diverse products. In southern Africa, research that aims to addressed biodiversity and socio-economic issues includes domestication of diverse priority indigenous fruit tree species; and the evaluation of soil fertility replenishing Agroforestry technologies. This paper discusses the contribution of the natural forest resource and AFS to the improvement of the socio-economic livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the promotion of the conservation of biodiversity drawing on evidence from research conducted in southern Africa over the last two decades.

Domestication and conservation of indigenous Miombo fruit trees for improving rural livelihoods in Southern Africa

Abstract The last two decades have witnessed increased interest in the conservation, domestication and commercialization of indigenous fruit trees (IFTs) in the tropics. This paper examines the experiences from research and development (R&D) initiatives involving IFTs of the Miombo eco-region. Significant progress has been made in domestication strategies, including species priority setting, provenance trials, participatory clonal selection and development of new cultivars, nursery propagation techniques and field management. New research has created opportunities for the development of IFTs as new crops and their management on-farm. Participatory domestication initiatives described in this paper provide a beneficial strategy aimed at reducing over-dependence and exploitation of wild populations, while at the same time helping farmers and researchers in the development of new tree crops to capture economic opportunities.

Opportunity for conserving and utilizing agrobiodiversity through agroforestry in Southern Africa

Abstract Traditional approaches to biodiversity conservation focused on protection of natural habitats in parks and reserves while neglecting the potential to conserve agrobiodiversity in farming systems that could provide other direct and indirect benefits necessary for livelihoods and ecosystem functioning. Quantitative assessments of tree biodiversity have mostly focused on traditional production systems such as shifting cultivation in the miombo ecozone, home gardens and the parkland systems; and to a lesser extent the below ground biodiversity with respect to micro flora and fauna as a function of soil fertility improvement. Agroforestry systems, in contrast to intensive monocultures, may provide high quality habitats for biodiversity conservation. In the case of trees on the landscape, the use of non-timber forest products as a livelihood strategy, particularly for food, nutrition, medicine and ‘safety net’ during lean periods, has been one of the drivers of biodiversity conservation. In southern Africa, research that has addressed biodiversity albeit indirectly include indigenous fruit tree domestication and the screening of multi-purpose tree germplasm for improved agroforestry systems and/or technologies. This paper highlights the state of knowledge on the contribution of agroforestry to agrobiodiversity in southern Africa. It draws on the huge body of data on the genetic diversity of agroforestry trees used to meet diverse livelihood needs including those used for soil fertility replenishment, provision of animal fodder, fruits, medicinal products and, fuelwood and timber.

The influence of tourism on the woodcarving trade around Cape Town and implications for forest resources in southern Africa

Woodcarving is an important informal sector industry that is heavily dependent on tourism and yet sustains the livelihoods of many migrant communities in South Africa. In the Cape Town area, the trade appears to be dominated by sellers from neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most traded wood species are Dalbergia melanoxylon (African ebony), Brachylaena huillensis (silver oak or muhuhu) and Afzelia quanzensis (pod mahogany). This study found that the average gross income from the trade was R6450 and R2692 per month in the tourism peak and off seasons, respectively. However, while the woodcarving industry provides an important source of informal employment, it has contributed to the scarcity of highly prized hardwood species, especially in impoverished, underdeveloped areas.