Abstract:
Background: Removals caused by both natural and anthropogenic drivers such as logging and fire in miombo
woodlands causes substantial carbon emissions. Here we present drivers and their effects on the variations on the
number of stems and aboveground carbon (AGC) removals based on an analysis of Tanzania’s national forest inven-
tory (NFI) data extracted from the National Forest Resources Assessment and Monitoring (NAFORMA) database using
allometric models that utilize stump diameter as the sole predictor.
Results: Drivers of AGC removals in miombo woodlands of mainland Tanzania in order of importance were timber,
fire, shifting cultivation, charcoal, natural death, firewood collection, poles, grazing by wildlife animals, carvings, graz-
ing by domestic animals, and mining. The average number of stems and AGC removals by driver ranged from 0.006
to 16.587 stems ha −1 year −1 and 0.0–1.273 tCha −1 year −1 respectively. Furthermore, charcoal, shifting cultivation and
fuelwood caused higher tree removals as opposed to timber, natural death and fire that accounted for higher AGC
removals.
Conclusions: Drivers caused substantial effects on the number of stems and carbon removals. Increased mitigation
efforts in addressing removals by timber, fires, shifting cultivation, charcoal and natural death would be effective in
mitigating degradation in miombo woodlands of Tanzania. Additionally, site-specific studies need to be conducted to
bring information that would be used for managing woodlands at local levels. This kind of study need to be con-
ducted in other vegetation types like montane and Mangrove forest at national scale in Tanzania.
