A Quiz on Miombo Forests

MIOMBO QUIZ

- Name the products special to miombo trees that are indicated by red arrows
- Give a market price for the product and an idea of its importance in the household
- Mouse over the arrow for a picture of the finished product and more info

Each beehive made from Brachystegia bark lasts several years and brings in $10 to $30 per year (=10% of annual income) (Photo by Grace Mutale)

Charcoal from miombo trees is high-quality and high-income: up to $2 per 50-kg sack in local mkts brings an annual $150 for one man on a 2-person team producing 30 sacks per month in dry months (= at least 50% annual income) (Photo by Sam Simute)

Edible mushrooms come in 17types in Zambia's miombo forest. Sold for $0.10 per heap, a lady collecting and selling 5 heaps/week over 4 months of rain season earns school fees for a child. (Photo by Cecilia)

Thatch from forest openings is in high demand by tourist lodges. 10,000 bundles sold for $0.20 each can roof a building and provide annual income for 7 people. (Photo by Sam Simute)

Traditional brooms are woven from fibers of Vellosia plants. Each broom is $0.10 to $0.30 in the market depending on season and distance. Selling 20 per day over 4 months yields the entire avg per capita income. (Photo by Grace Mutale)

Antelopes of all sizes; leopards; small game and other prized meat and skin sources regenerate in miombo woodland and complement an otherwise-minimal diet. (Photo by Cecilia)

Rope made from young Brachystegia tree bark may fetch $0.10 per bundle; it will be used to close charcoal bags, tie bark hives to trees, and such (Photo by Cecilia)

Caterpillars feeding on Julbernardia leaves add protein to diet and income to women's purses; at $0.10 per heap, the season can pay for a school uniform. {Photo by Grace Mutale)

NOTE: PRICES BASED ON 2000-2005 DATA;
PER CAPITA ANNUAL INCOME WAS $302

MIOMBO SPECIES NAMES:
Local - Scientific names in tables (420Kb)
Scientific - Local names (Word 333Kb)

Photos: Cecilia Polansky

MORE MIOMBO QUESTIONS AND INFO RESOURCES BELOW PHOTO

MARKET STUDY OF MIOMBO PRODUCTS
NTFP Market Study from Zambia 2001 (pdf 4Mb)

WHAT ARE MIOMBO WOODLANDS?

(FROM: Miombo Forum FAQ)

WHAT COUNTRIES ARE HOME TO MIOMBO WOODLANDS?

WHAT HUMAN INTERACTIONS ARE CRITICAL IN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF MIOMBO ECOSYSTEMS?

Mouse over for answer -- do not click

It is estimated that over 75 million people live within the miombo ecoregion and that the woodlands directly support the livelihoods of over 40 million people. A further 15 million people in towns and cities also depend on miombo products.
(Bradley, P.N. and McNamara, K. 1993. Living with trees. Policies for forestry management in Zimbabwe. Technical Paper No. 210. Washington, D.C., World Bank)

HOW MUCH AREA IS COVERED BY MIOMBO WOODLANDS?

Lady Forester Home Page ->

ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE HONEY from miombo woodlands

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WWF Malawi Miombo site