Forests in Mozambique cover about 62 million hectares, which represent 78 percent of the country. Based on forest maps and preliminary forest inventory, a total of 19 160 000 hectares have been identified as high and medium density forests with potential for forest production mainly in the Northern and Central Provinces.
There is a great diversity of species, many of which have commercial value. The majority of forest communities are dominated by Brachystegia spp. There are also other species with high commercial value such as Dalbergia melanoxylon, Pterocarpus angolensis, Millettia stuhlmanni, Afzelia quanzensis, Swartzia madascarenzis, Milicia excelsa and Androstachys johnsonii, which are subject to selective harvesting to supply local and external markets.
Forests and woodlands provide a wide range of goods and services which support the national economy and human sustenance. Apart from timber, Mozambican forests provide firewood and charcoal, which comprise 85 percent of the energy consumption in the country. It is estimated that 16 million m3 of wood are annually used for energy purposes, 70 percent being from rural areas. Trees are also used as posts and poles, food, fodder and medicine, shade, shelter, and also as a stabilizer and ameliorant of soil. A great number of non-wood products are also extracted from trees (see appendix 2).
The over-exploitation of forest can contribute to the damage of the ex situ conservation areas, desertification, inappropriate harvesting practices for non-wood products, as well as climate and land use changes.
Since 1991, after the first national workshop on plant genetic resource conservation meeting held in Mozambique, the National Plant Genetic Resource Committee started to coordinate the activities concerning this issue. Its members were drawn from various institutions dealing with plant genetic resources: Institute of Animal Production (IPA), National Institute for Agronomic Research (INIA), Forest Research Center (CEF), National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife (DNFFB) and Department of Forestry Engineering (DEF). Each member has a concrete duty in the Committee. CEF has been working together with the Forestry Inventory Unit, the National Herbarium, INIA and the National Animal Institute.
