Does Management Matter? Assessment on Miombo Forests in Angola

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess the predominant management knowledge of miombo forests in Angola. It interlinks with decision support methods to assess future management plans for miombo forest where the community’s interests evolve (wild fruits, animals, firewood, charcoal, and timber). The management of miombo forests is a complex subject due to multiple outcomes particularly because of their uniqueness, while charcoal and firewood are the major products. The application of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to data collected in Bié province showed that timber is not a priority for people that live around miombo area, whereas charcoal appears to be a priority to 68% of the community. We conclude that applying the AHP to the data collected in Bié province was a clear indication that future researches on local communities priorities will be conducted when it comes to take decisions for the entire forest community.