SCHOOL: AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAM: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE UNIT NAME: EAST AFRICAN NATURAL FLORA AND

FAUNA UNIT CODE: ENS 236 REG NO: N38/PUC/0719/11 NAME: ONYANCHA NYAKERARIO LISTER TASK: WRITE ON MIOMBO WOODLANDS ON SOIL, FLORA AND FAUNA AND HUMAN VALUES OF MIOMBO WOODLANDS SUBMITTED TO: MR KASHINDI GEFFREY DATE OF SUBMISSION: 15TH APRIL 2013

Miombo woodlands: introduction Miombo is used to describe central, southern and eastern Africa woodlands. Over its range, mature undisturbed miombo is closely deciduous non-spine scent woodland. It generally occurs geologically old, nutrient-poor soils in the unimodal rainfall zone. The shrub layer is variable in density and

composition. The ground cover varies from a dense course grass growth to a sparse cover of herbs and small grasses. It is dominated by the genera brachystegia, julbernardia and/or isoberlinia, three related genera from the legume family (fabaceae, subfamily caesapinioideae).

SOILS The soils of miombo woodlands comprise mainly of highly weathered soils which are found 3m deep. Shallow stony soils are usally found along escarpments and inselbergs. Loamy sandy, sandy loamy and sandy clay loam textures are predominantly found in both top and subsoils. The amount of clay normally increases with depth sometimes resulting into a marked texture contrast between the top soil and sub soil. However, most of the soils have good to rapid permeability due to micro aggregation of the clays. The soils are freely drained although drainage can be restricted locally by shallow depth, low relief, clay subsoils or indurate laterite oftenly present at available depth, marking the past and sometimes present upper limits of a fluctuating water table The dominant soils in the higher rainfall zones are classified as ; Haplorthox and Haplustox in the USDA taxonomy( approximate FAO equivalents are Orthic, Rhodic, and Xanthic Ferralsols); paleustults and palexerults (Feric Acrisols) Haploxeralfs(Feric luvisols),tropudalfs and paleustults(eutirc nitosols), and paleudults and tropudults(dystric nitosols) occur over basic rocks. The dominant soils in the lower rainfall zones are Ustropepts(Ferralic and chromic cambisols), paleustalfs and Rhodoxeralfs(chromic lurisols) are wide spread along the south western margins on soils derived from aelian Kalahari sand. The soil moisture and temperature regimes of miombo woodlands are generally ustic, meaning that the soil moisture is present at a time when conditions are suitable plant growth but is limited for atleast 90 consecutive days at some time during the year. Soil temperature regimes are isohypherthermic(mean annual soil temperatures greater than 220c , with less thn 50c difference between mean summer and winter soil temperatures, becoming isothermic above about 1200m altitude.

Miombo woodland soils are typically acidic, have low cation exchange capacities and are low in nitrogen, exchangeable cations and are extractable phosphorus. Land use practices such as slash-and-burn agriculture may also have a long-term impact on soil property and need further investigation. Organic matter levels are generally low, except under densely wooded vegetation. However, organic matter contributes substantially to cation exchange capacity in these soils.

FLORA AND FAUNA The diversity of the tree canopy species is low although the overall species richness of the flora is high. Woody plants make up more than 95% of plants biomass in mature woodlands but interpersed within the woodlands are broad grass depressions Despite the low rainfall pattern and relatively poor nutrient soils by support and cover a large variety of species, these include: Birds: Birds species includes wood pecker as well as other species like vultures, eagle fish, kingfisher, yellow billed stork and plovers. Reptiles: These includes common crocodiles while the endemic are the two sub species of the spotted flat lizards and the chameleon (Chamaeleon tornieri) Mammals: These includes the following, wildebeests (Connochaetes faurinus), African elephant (Loxodonia Africana), African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), sable antelope (Hippotrangus niger), Impala (Insects: Predominantly are termites and tsetse flies as well as dung beetle

HUMAN USE AND VALUES OF MIOMBO WOODLANDS Source of fuel: Women collected firewood for domestic use. Not al species were used. There rare three types of firewood species used , theses are Julbernardia globiflora, Colophonspermum mopane and Brachystegia boehmii. The characteristics favorable firewood inclu de hot flame, burning with little smoke and having long lasting embers Poles and construction materials: Miombo provides large diameter of durable timber although traditionally used have now become unavailable. House and barns required many poles of different dimensions, weight and durability as well as rope fibre for tying together and grasses for thatching which had to be replaced at frequent interval Source of Timber: The main miombo timber species are pterocarpus angolensis whose timber is very durable, works well and shrinks very little in drying and is one of the most valuable timber in Africa. Afzelia quanzensis whose timber is straight grained, hard and is used for internal and external joinery as well as being favorable for dugout canoes. Dalbergia melanoxylon is considered one of the best turnery wood in the world and is used for making musical instruments Other fine hard wood from miombo and associated vegetation are Combretum imberbe, Diospyros

mespilpforms, Androstachys johnsomii, Khaya anthotheca, Terminalia sericea and milletia stuhlmamii.. Household implements and curios: Wood is the principle material for making domestic implements; hoe and axe handle, pestle and mortar, cooking sticks, plates and bowls extre It si also important for carved curios, an important income earner and sometimes a source of foreign exchange Wild food: Miombo provides food to people in the following forms; fruits, there is a rich variety and quantity of fruit trees.In Tanzania a total of 83 species of fruit tree have been recorded, most of which occur in miombo woodlands. Mushrooms, moist miombo woodlands have abundant and a diverse mushroom population. Insects, edible insects harvested from miombo woodlands are a source of protein, vitamins as well as energy for local people. Leaves and roots, wild plants leaves and roots are other important source of food derived from miombo woodlands. Rural households of Tanzania consume 15 species of wild leaves Medicinal value: The leaves, roots and banks of many different species are used in health care both in medicine and magic. Plant material combinations are used in self treatment of common ailments such as coughs, headaches, sores and diarrhea Tannins, dyes, oils and gums: There is a wide range of other products which come from trees in miombo woodlands including tannins, oils, resins, dyes and gums. Many of these products are unknown outside the area of which ate used, and there exists a highly added value and potential for commercial satisfaction Browse: The dry season flush of leaves that occur in miombo woodlands during September and November is a vital forage resource at a time when grasses are dry, a month or two before the rains. At this time cattle spend

upto 60% of their feeding using trees. The new leaves are highly in crude protein and mineral content. Cattle goats and sheep browse leaves from regeneration short trees and shrubs Spiritual and cultural value: Throughout the miombo zone, trees and woodlands are important in spiritual and cultural life of loca residents. Terrriterial cult regions, in which natural resources are believed to be guiarded by the spirits of the ancestors, are common to most of the indigenous people of the miombo woodlands areas.