Looking at the map on the right, I couldn’t help but think about the disturbing similarities between the level of destruction as measured from ground zero in the aftermath of an atomic explosion and this image from a fascinating study showing patterns of tropical forest degradation in a roughly 100 miles radius of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital.
The study was presented at the charcoal symposium organized by The Charcoal Project in June in Arusha. The authors are Antje Ahrends and Simon L. Lewis, both PhDs affiliated with the University of Leeds (UK) Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
The paper, presented by Dr. Lewis, is based on the Von Thünen model of economic theory that suggests people exploit agricultural resources starting with those with the highest value items and then move on down the chain. The theory also posits that, in order to maximize rent, people first choose locations that are closest to markets. Thus successive waves of forest degradation emanate from major centers of demand and target resources in a strict value sequence.
The study is full of excellent info and quality data.
Among the findings are that :
1. At current rates, no high value timber will be left in Tanzania’s coastal forest in 37 years.
2. The Tanzanian government lost $53 million USD in 2005. This is due to the fact that 96% of the timber harvest was undeclared.
3. China imports 10 times more timber from Tanzania that total declared imports.
Among the study’s broader conclusions, the study shows that carbon fluxes from forest degradation are significant and need to be included into ecosystem service payment schemes such as REDD.
Will this issue be on the agenda in Durban in December?
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