Forests and Forest Products in Zambia

This post explores the importance of forests and forest products, the variety of life they support, and the sustainable practices that help preserve these vital ecosystems for future generations. Meaning of forest.

• It is the caring and planting of trees
• It is done by the forestry department which is under the ministry of environment and natural resources

Types of vegetation in Zambia

• The natural vegetation (types of plants) found in Zambia is referred to as tropical grasslands or savanna.
• This means that the veld has a mixture of grasses and trees, and that there are also areas with denser forests of trees.

Open forests

• Forests are large areas covered with trees
• Open forests consists of trees which do not form a dense canopy such as acacia and monape trees.
• This allows sun-loving smaller bushes and tall grasses to grow under them.
• These open forests make up part of the savanna grasslands that cover most of Zambia.
• These areas are also called woodlands.
• In some parts of the higher plateau, fires have destroyed many woodland trees.
• The fires are sometimes caused by lightning or other natural causes, but are always caused by human activities, such as burning trees to clear land for planting crops.
• In these areas grasslands have taken over the veld.

Closed forests

• Closed forests are very dense that they form a canopy, blocking out the sun from the ground.
• The trees may grow naturally or maybe planted by people.
• Where trees have grown naturally, it is called a natural forest.
• If trees have been planted by people, such a forest, it is referred to as a forest plantation.

Swamps

• Here the vegetation mostly consists of grasslands and logs that can survive the waterlogged soil conditions.

Types of tree species

• There are two groups of forests that are under the forestry department and these are exotic forests and indigenous forests

EXOTIC FORESTS

• These are planted by people inn forest plantations for the purpose of using the wood, or trees from other countries growing in gardens or parks in cities.

• Example pine trees.

• These are plantations that have been established by the forest department in all The districts in Zambia
• They are made up of the foreign types of trees like the pine, eucalyptus, fir and cedar. most of these trees are soft wood trees except the eucalyptus, they have a fast growth, grow in pure stands, are of a timber value and are evergreen
• They are also resistant to diseases
• They grow straight

INDIGENOUS FORESTS

• There are trees naturally found in forests and woodlands in Zambia example is mopane trees.
• These are forest reserves that have been established throughout the country
• These are reserved for research and future use
• They are mainly found on stream banks and catchment areas
• They are made up of the local type of trees
• The trees are deciduous, have an umbrella shape, do not grow in pure stands, hard to work on have a slow growth and very few types are of timber value

Indigenous forests and tree species

• Natural forests include the Livunda dry evergreen forests south of Kabompo River in North-Werstem province, and the dry evergreen forests bordering in dambo (westlands).
• They also include swamp forests in high rainfall areas in the copperbelt, and the mopane forest of the Nyika plateu and Makutu mountains.
• Natural forests are also found along the upper escarpments of the Luangwa and Luapula Rivers.

Trees of the savanna woodlands

Savanna woodlands cover most of the country and consist of three types:

1. Milombo woodlands cover about 70% of the country.
2. Kalahari woodlands are found in the sandy areas of the Western province.
3. Munga woodlands consist of acacia trees.

• All these woodlands are made up of trees with grasses growing beneath them.
• The savanna woodlands consist mostly of deciduous trees.
• This means that the trees lose their leaves during the dry season.
• The trees have adapted to survive dry conditions in different ways.

Evergreen forests

• Evergreen forests occur in high rainfall areas, such as in some highland areas.
• There is enough rainfall for the trees to grow new leaves and appear green throughout the year.
• Evergreen forests are made up of taller trees that can grow as tall as 25 to 30 metres.
• There is a lower layer of smaller trees growing beneath the taller trees.
• Common trees in the evergreen forests include mupundu, kayimbi and mukwa.
• A type of evergreen forests called riverine forests are found along rivers and swamps, and in areas that get flooded seasonally.

Exotic tree species and forest plantations

• Forest plantations are found in all the provinces of Zambia.
• They are planted by the forestry department to provide alternative sources of wood so that Zambia’s indigenous tree species and can be preserved.
• The largest is the Chichele plantation in the copperbelt.
• Pine trees are the most common type of exotic tree planted in forest plantations.
• Other exotic tree species include eucalyptus trees.
• Some exotic trees and plants can be invasive and take over the natural vegetation.
• It is therefore important for exotic to be controlled to prevent this.

Forest products and their uses

• Trees and forests provide a range of benefits.
• The most important of these is that forests act as the “green lungs” of the planet.
• Trees absorb carbon dioxide which they use in making their own food through the process of photosynthesis.
• Oxygen, which humans and animals need to breathe in to stay alive, is then released.
• Forests provide many products that we use in our everyday lives.

IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS

• Construction materials for homes and public buildings like schools and hospitals
• Countries to oxygen production in the atmosphere through photosynthesis
• Fire wood for cooking and heating
• Food for both animals and human beings
• For production of charcoal
• Good scenery especially in highland areas
• Grass and fibres for mats and baskets, building houses and shelters
• Protection of the catchment areas from soil erosion.
• Protection of the soil from drying up
• Raw materials for industries like sawmills, pulp and paper Constraints on forestry
• Chitemene system which has contributed to deforestation in most parts of Zambia
• Forest fires which destroys the trees especially late burning
• Lumbering and charcoal burning which has contributed to the finishing of trees.
• Overgrazing by animals
• Pests and diseases which attacks the trees

Deforestation

Deforestation means that forests are cleared for various purposes at a faster rate than the forests can grow again.

Causes of deforestation

• Clearing forests for commercial farming practices that require and burning of trees for farmland.
• Commercial logging for timber.
• Cutting of trees for charcoal and firewood.

Negative effects deforestation.

• Destruction of biodiversity and changes in climate patterns all over the world.
• It can lead to desertification, with useful forests turning into useless deserts.
• Migration of animals and birds to other areas for shelter
• Shortages of wood fuel.

Forest conservation

Forests can be conserved and preserved through dedicated efforts by all citizens and government. Ways to conserve forests are:

• Commercial forestry programmes for timber to protect our natural forests.
• Control and regulation of bush fire.
• Control and regulation of charcoal burning.
• Control of commercial logging.
• Educating communities on the importance and values of forest resources.
• Tree planting programmes
• Using renewable sources (wind, solar and water energy) instead of burning wood.