Optimizing biomass in community based forest management for climate change mitigation a case study of Iringa region, Tanzania

PhD ThesisThis study was conducted in Iringa Region, Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The objective was to optimize biomass under Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) in miombo woodlands for climate change mitigation and local livelihoods. By using optimization techniques with the aid of Excel solver computer software the optimization was performed. Six forest management options were created; (1) Business as usual (BAU), (2) Community Based Forest Management (CBFM), (3) total protection for carbon credit (CCO), (4 ) strict quota (SQ), (5 ) medium quota (QM), ( 6) loose quota (LQ) on miombo woodlands extraction.The study sought optimal biomass management options from local community point of view considering financial returns, CO2 storage and sequestration and forest product extraction. Data were collected using pre-tested and pilot-tested questionnaires, direct observations, interviews and focus group discussions. Ecological datawere collected through satellite images for before and after CBFM intervention to provide extent of miombo woodland cover change while forest inventory techniques from with and without CBFM intervention provided status of biomass improvement.Accordingly the study explored the state of art in miombo woodland management; and growth and carbon storage potentials, presented as paper I. In addition the study examined land use and cover change in miombo woodlands as influenced by community based forest management and its implication to climate change mitigation paper II. It was revealed that carbon stock improved significantly under CBFM compared to BAU (P