Indigenous Silviculture
This unit conducts research into:
- Methods of managing indigenous forests on a sustainable yield basis
- Determining tree growth rates
- Effects of thinnings, pollarding, and coppicing
- Construction of yield tables for selected species
Contribution of Tree Domestication to Climate Change
Climate change is now a global concern, with its impacts being felt worldwide. From changing seasons to extreme weather events like droughts and floods, adaptation and mitigation measures are urgently needed.
Forestry plays a vital role in this response, as forests act as carbon sinks and help reduce global warming by absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Figure 1 illustrates how forests can be restored using indigenous seedlings. The species shown include:
- Kirkia acuminata
- Afzelia quanzensis
- Adansonia digitata
- Berchemia discolor
- Colophospermum mopane
- Sclerocarya birrea
Zimbabwe’s economy heavily depends on natural resources—including forests—for energy, livelihoods, and job creation. Sustainable management and restoration of these forests require deep understanding of the growth characteristics of indigenous tree species.
Reliable data on tree growth and yield is essential for estimating restoration potential and setting regulations on indigenous tree harvesting cycles.
Unfortunately, past deforestation, driven by forest fires, energy demand, and land resettlement, has decimated these forests. Historically, afforestation favored exotic species, which disrupted natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
The solution lies in rehabilitating landscapes using indigenous species, thereby preserving biodiversity while restoring effective carbon sinks.
To that end, the Forestry Research Division has initiated domestication studies of regionally significant indigenous trees with multiple uses. These efforts are based on wide consultations conducted by the Conservation and Extension Division and aim to address both ecological and economic needs in the context of climate change mitigation.