Feasibility of Community Management of Miombo Woodlands for Carbon Project in Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Abstract

In response to the pressing global challenges of climate change, community based management of miombo woodlands in Tanzania is promoted for carbon credit project development. However, evidence on its feasibility is scanty and questionable. This study examined the economic feasibility of carbon credit project development in community based forest management (CBFM) using four similar miombo woodlands from Southern highlands. The analysis was based on 144 sample plots from managed woodlands and 100 plots from business as usual (BAU) (open access). Allometric equation was applied to convert biomass to carbon per hectare. Improved carbon stock was determined and its economic value ascertained based on global voluntary carbon markets. Project feasibility analysis was performed using discounted cash flow, internal rate of return, and benefits/costs methods. Annual opportunity cost and variable costs were subtracted from total revenue to obtain annual net profit. The annual rate of return on investment was calculated by dividing profits by total costs. It was revealed that carbon stock improved significantly in CBFM compared to BAU ( < 5%). The improvement had positive net present value and benefit-cost ratio of 1.83. Moreover, sensitivity analysis showed that if any unexpected situation occurs, the project will still be of worthiness. The findings are useful to enrich the debate on carbon credit development under community based management of miombo woodlands in Tanzania.

Woody biomass increases across three contrasting land uses in Hurungwe, mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe

“…This points to the potential of miombo woodland for carbon sequestration. Studies across the region have alluded to a positive potential of REDD + in the miombo, with some pilot projects indicating positive results (Munishi et al 2010, Lusambo and Lupala 2016, Lupala et al 2017, Sichone et al2019. AGC estimates in the study area were within the range of estimates by Guy (1981) Desanker et al 1997).…”

“…Miombo biomass is usually linked to edaphic features, precipitation, and woodland cover change (Ribeiro et al 2021a). Woody biomass in undisturbed mature miombo ranges from 30-70 Mg/ha in the dry miombo stands of Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe (Ribeiro et al 2013;Kachamba et al 2016;Lupala et al 2017) to 100-144 Mg/ha in old-growth wet miombo (Kalaba et al 2013;Gonçalves et al 2017). The most common disturbance agents in miombo woodlands are human activities, elephants and fire, all of which interact (Frost 1996, Mapaure andMoe 2009).…”

Land-Related Issues and Small Scale Private Forestry in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

“…Although different scholars have explained about the land-related issues (Anne, 2020;Arvola et al, 2019;Lupala et al, 2017;Payn et al, 2015), there is still little information concerning land-related issues specifically in Southern Highlands in Tanzania, as most of these studies have been conducted out of Tanzania. Therefore, in order to bridge this gap, this study intended to produce a lot of information on land-related issues specifically on management and conflicts over land small-scale private forestry in Southern Highlands of Tanzania.…”

“…Land tenure rules describe how property rights to land and trees, and rights to transfer those rights. Additionally, in all countries, including in the African countries, land tenure reforms have been implemented since 1990, and land allocation, and their implementation are similar to actual private ownership rights even in countries where state land ownership prevails (Lupala et al, 2017). However, the practice of the stated rights is not yet clear in most of the…”