Ecological impact of tobacco farming in miombo woodlands of Urambo District, Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorMangora, Mwita M.
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-25T12:20:02Z
dc.date.available2016-04-25T12:20:02Z
dc.date.issued2005
dc.description.abstractThis paper examines the ecological threat of tobacco farming in Urambo District, the leading producer of flue-cured tobacco in Tanzania with other major producers being Tabora, Iringa and Chunya Districts. Structured interviews were conducted in four villages while 39 ModifiedWhittacker plots were laid in tobacco fallow lands for inventory of woody species to ascertain ecological performance and the impact of tobacco on species diversity, richness and standing stock functions. There was higher than expected species richness with a total of 115 tree and shrub species identified. Tobacco farming showed no signi- ficant negative effect on the floristic composition and stem density. However, the significantly reduced biomass and change in vegetation structure illustrate the potential loss in ecological function of the woodlands. Land clearing for tobacco planting account to an annual deforestation of 3.5% while on average a farmer requires 23 m3 of stacked wood only for curing per season which adds another 3% of deforestation. Shifting cultivation is no longer sustainable given the shortened fallow periods of 4 years. Improved barn structures, alternative sources of fuel like coal, tree planting, mixed cropping and cash crops that are environment friendly are recommended for ecological restoration.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMangora, M.M., 2005. Ecological impact of tobacco farming in miombo woodlands of Urambo District, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology, 43(4), pp.385-391.en_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1365-2028.2005.00603.x
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1718
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWileyen_US
dc.subjectDeforestationen_US
dc.subjectRichnessen_US
dc.subjectSpecies compositionen_US
dc.subjectTobaccoen_US
dc.titleEcological impact of tobacco farming in miombo woodlands of Urambo District, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Revieweden_US
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