FORESTRY DATA ON MOZAMBIQUE

by
Maundrate Nakala Oreste
and
Carla Cristina Cuemba
Ministry of Agriculture
Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife
Economics and Planing Department
Maputo, Mozambique

1. INTRODUCTION

1.2. Country profile

The Republic of Mozambique lies on the Southeast African coast and has a surface area of 799.380 Km² (Saket, 1994). It shares borders with six countries - Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.

The country is divided into 10 provinces, 128 districts, 387 administrative posts, and nearly 100 towns, 23 of which are classified as cities. The eastern side of Mozambique is about 2,500 Kilometres of Indian Ocean and many islands (Christie, 1996). The north and Northwest plateaux reach a height of 1,800 m. and the country's highest mountain, Mt. Binga is 1,436 meters.

1.1. Macro-economic indicators

Mozambique, with over 16.5 million people (estimated in 1997), of which 7.8 million are men and 8.7 million are women, and with a virtually untapped agricultural, mineral, forestry, tourism and energy resources, has the potential to be among the world's richest countries (INE, 97). The annual interest rates to be paid for deposit accounts are around 40%.

A structural adjustment program was launched in 1987, since then the country has moved from a centrally planned economy to one that is based on a free market. The government has adopted the Economic and Social Recovery Program for renewed economic growth and development by:

Prioritising the rehabilitation of vital economic sectors and infrastructures;

Restoring output particularly for exports;

Cutting governmental deficits and re-establishing financial equilibrium;

Reducing direct state involvement in non-strategic areas of economic activity and production;

Promoting efficiency in state enterprises and revising the private sector;

Promoting re-establishment of commercial network and market distribution channels;

Encouraging both national and foreign investment to play a larger role in economic development country.

Mozambique's economy has been growing continuously, in real terms, since 1993 and long-term economic prospects are good. The country's annual GNP per capita, estimated in 1993 was US $ 90, but by mid-1996 the World Bank believed that GNP per capita had risen to between US$ 120 and US$ 150 (Christie, 1996).

The economy grew 4.1% in 1995, 6% in 1996, and 6.1% in 1997. There was a sharp decrease in inflation: 54% in 1995, 16.6% in 1996 and 4.1% in 1997 (CPI; 1998). The exchange rate in July 1997 was 1 USD = 11.500 MT (Meticais), while in November 1998 was 1 USD = 12.100 MT.

Table 1. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by sector, is as follows:

sector	GDP%
Tourism and services	52.2% (1995)
Agriculture	22.8% (1997)
Industry	8.6% (1997)
Others	13.4% (1985)

Source: Christie, 1998

1.2. Forestry contribution to the GNP

In Mozambique, natural forests have a huge potential for social and economical development and contribute to a large extent in providing goods and services.

Rural communities depend strongly on the forestry resources for their livelihood. The national economy receives direct contribution from the forestry sector for about 18% (estimate) annually of the GNP. Indirect contributions amount to around 80% of the country's needs for energy in substitution of millions of tons of fuel oil that should be imported, something equivalent for house building and various other products of very high financial values (Saket et. al, 1995).

Forestry's contribution to the country's national income or the value-added generated within the sector in 1981 was estimated at 5.299 million MT. The figure is an estimate based on available information as well as on several assumptions, and therefore should be regarded as a rough indication of the sector's role in the economy.

Subsistence production accounts for nearly 75% of the total value-added. There are no complete statistics on the country's national income. For this reason, no attempt has been made to determine the magnitude of the contribution of the forestry sector to the GNP.

In 1983, the forestry's contribution was estimated at about 7% of GNP, and from 1980 to 1986, excluding fuelwood, the wood industry contribution has represented an average of 21% of the agro-industrial Gross Production (Strategy for development of the forestry sector, 1991), which has amounted to 28% in subsequent years (1986-1988).

In 1977, the forestry sector contribution to the income generated from exports was US $ 5 million, which has decreased to US$1 million from 1989 to 1990 due to various economical barriers. At the beginning of 1973 the exports income generation amounted to over US$ 7 million for 120,000 m³ of processed wood, against the 2,400 m³ registered in 1990 (round timber included).

2. FOREST RESOURCES

The land is a key issue in the national social context. Under the 1990 Constitution, all property in land is vested to the State. Land may not be sold or mortgaged but, the State grants titles for the use of land and long lease is available. Direct users and producers get priority.

In granting titles for the use of land the State protects rights acquired through inheritance or occupation, unless there is a legal reservation. The constitution of the Republic makes it clear that environmental considerations are important.

2.1. Forest land area

The natural forest extends over an area of 618,274 Km^2, which accounts for 77.79% of the total land of the country, including the inland bodies. The forest with timber production capacity covers an area of 197,354 Km² or 24.43% of the total land of the country. The actual size of mangrove vegetation is defined at 396, 080 ha. (Saket et al; 1995).

Natural forest cover has been classified according to five major vegetation type as following:

High Forest: usually with 3 differentiated strata; dominant stratum has an average height of more than 18 m.; co-dominant stratum of 12-15 m and understorey of 4 to 7 m.

Low Forest

Thicket: frequently the result of a degradation process following burning, over exploitation or overgrazing of high or low forests.

Grassland: The dominant component is the grassy herbaceous stratum. Scattered trees and scrubs can be present.

Mangrove communities: All mangrove communities are grouped under this unit.

Vegetation on dunes: All littoral dune formations are grouped under this unit.

Table 2. Land use distribution and land cover types

Land Use type	Area (ha) 1980	Area (ha) 1990
Natural forest (productive)	19,129,480	19,735,400
Forest plantations	42,000	42,000
Thicket	19,880,998	26,278,471
Grassland	31,952,950	20,114,357
Mangroves	455,500	396,080
Dunes	98,250	78,867
Agriculture	5,496,200	11,843,910
Water bodies	1,029,948	1,029,948
Not classified area	1,280,000	1,280,000
TOTAL	80,799,033	80,799,033
Annual deforestation (1980-1990)%		0.26
Annual re-afforestation (1990)%		1,400

Source: Saket, 1994

The forest types having timber capacity production has a growing stock estimated at 503 million cubic meters, in which 68 million cubic meters of timber with commercial values of diameter categories of 25 cm and higher. The total standing timber of economically valuable species of diameter categories of 40 cm and more is estimated at about 22 million cubic meters (Saket; 1994).

Regarding yield rates, it has been estimated that total timber can produce 8.828 million cubic meters per year and the total commercial timber is able to generate 1.195 million cubic meters a year.

2.2. State protected area

State protected area	Total (ha)
Forest reserves	4,471
National Parks	16,070
Wildlife reserves	18,600
Coastline reserves	1,050
Hunting area	59,704

3. FOREST PRODUCTS

3.1. Wood products and industries

The forestry sector's review carried out in 1995 shows that the majority of wood produced in Mozambique is utilised by the rural sector as fuelwood and building material. Only a small portion of the total wood production comprises industrial wood.

Despite a declining trend in industrial wood production in the country since the mid `70's the total wood removal from the forests has shown a regular increase due to a steady growth of subsistence population whose consumption pattern and wood usage remained the same.

The structure of wood production in Mozambique comprises:

Subsistence wood production;

Market fuel wood production;

Industrial roundwood; and

Processed wood production

Table 3. Registered Forest Industries in 1997

Province	Sawmills	Plywood	Particle Board	Veneer	Parquet	Posts	Total
C. Delgado	10						10
Zambezia	5						5
Nampula	14						14
Inhambane	13				1		14
Gaza	7						7
Tete	6						6
Sofala	11	1		1	1	1	15
Maputo	19						19
Manica	10		1			1	12
Niassa	6						6
TOTAL	101	1	1	1	2	2	108

Source: DEP/DNFFB, Annual Report, 1997

In the decade 1980, when Mozambique civil war, the majority of management, maintenance, operational and administrative staff of the industry suddenly immigrated; the industrial production began to decline. There has been some progress in industry since 1994, when the armed conflict ended.

Forest industry production for selected years is given in the table below:

Table 4. Forest Industries Production (1988-1997) (cubic metres)

Year	Sawnwood	Plywood	Particle Board	Veneer	Parquet
1988	19,456	173	3,270	6	57
1989	20.778	65	3,286	0	35
1990	25,661	2	4,007	0	46
1991	16,403	33	2,399	282	100
1992	15,665	100	1,218	751	208
1993	29,939	128	1,217	589	317
1994	29,526	-	800	1,441	2,314
1995	41,252	79	630	1,386	1,042
1996	42,972	697	0	1,824	3,709
1997	9,407	307	0	771

Source: DEP/DNFFB: Annual Report, 1997.

The recent change in government the Government policy prioritising the wood companies privatisation, will greatly encourage the private sector in the increase of wood production. The table below shows the number of the privatised companies:

Table 5. Privatisation of Forest Industry

province	privatised	in process
Maputo	3	0
Inhambane	5	11
Sofala	2	1
Manica	0	1
Tete	0	0
Zambezia	1	0
Nampula	3	0
Cabo Delgado	1	0
Niassa	0	0
Total	15	13

Source: DEP/DNFFB, Annual report, 1997

3.2. Fuelwood production

On the basis of the FAO's estimate of per capita fuelwood consumption of 0.665 cubic metres for Africa as well as on estimated population of the country, it was concluded that the total household fuelwood consumption in 1969 was 4.7 million cubic metres. The Forest Sector review has provided the 1992 per capita consumption in order of 1.0 to 1.7 m³.

Pole consumption for building and fencing in the rural areas is estimated at 0.03 cubic metres/ person/ year, which corresponds to a total of 317 thousand cubic metres. So far there is no new study carried out which could update the previous one.

Annual consumption of fuelwood and small construction poles (3 to 12 cm) in 1996 was estimated at 16.0 million cubic metres (DNFFB; 1997).

The low recorded information with the new system excluding the subsistence fuelwood production figures, shows that the consumption of wood for fuel, charcoal and poles is around 160,000 stacked cubic metres (steres), see table below.

Table 6. Wood Requirement in 1997

woodfuel	wood for charcoal	wood for poles
1,166a	785a	144a
497,815b	1,081,243b	21,113b
131,763.8c	158,131.7c	44,834c

Source: DEP/DNFFB: Annual Report, 1997

Number of issued licences^a; The authorised wood quantity (s.c.m.)^b; Wood removal/under licence^c

With regards to the market fuelwood, production, consumed by part of the urban population and by some industries, and according to the last survey in 1977, in Maputo, the average charcoal consumption is assumed to be 160 Kg/ person/ year.

3.3. Roundwood production

Estimated log intake capacity of all operating units is 310,000 cubic metres, which corresponds to the following annual outputs:

Sawtimber = 32,550.2 m³

Plywood = 959,0 m³

Blockboard = 2,454.0 m³

Veneer = 1,200,000 m³

Parquet = 9,448.0 m³

Source: DEP/DNFFB: Annual report, 1997

Of this log intake capacity, 202,500 cubic metres/year, corresponds to the logging capacity in natural forest, mostly located in the northern and central regions of the private sector holds the greater part of the logging capacity (Saket, 1995).

Table 7. Logging Capacity in Natural Forest (cubic metre/year)

province	public	private	mixed	total
Cabo Delgado	27,500	17,000	2,500	47,000
Niassa	7,500	2,500	-	10,000
Nampula	21,000	15,000	-	36,000
Zambezia	2,500	22,000	5,000	30,000
Tete	2,500	-	-	2,500
Sofala	7,500	45,000	-	52,500
Manica	7,500	-	-	7,500
Inhambane	15,000	-	-	15,000
Gaza	2,000	-	-	2,000
TOTAL	93,000	102,000	7,500	202,500

Source: Ribeiro, 1991

As has happened in other production fields, industrial roundwood output showed a marked drop in some years and stead decline along the last two decades (see table below):

Table 8. Roundwood production (000 cubic metres)

year	roundwood production
1960	400.0
1981	260.0
1986	14.5
1987	16.1
1988	15.5
1989	9.4
1990	47.4
1991	50.2
1992	17.3

Source: DEP/DNFFB, Annual Report, 1997

4. INSTITUTION INVOLVEMENT AND LINKAGE

With regards to the Forestry National Statistics Network (FNSN), the Directorate of Agrarian Economy (DEA) through its statistics department, constitutes a major link between Forestry Directorate and the National Commission of Plan (CNP) to whom the exclusive right for the national statistics publication was empowered.

The Forestry Directorate, represented by the Economics and Planning Department (DEP) have been sharing forestry product export statistics with the Ministry of Trade, before they submitted their annual reports to the National Commission of Plan.

One of the main constraints within the National Statistics Network (NSN) is the discrepancy of the recorded and delivered figures. This incident could be explained by:

Differences in report formats designed by the involved institutions;

Differences in the sources of information; and

Shortage of competent staff.

The lack of co-operation within the national forestry statistical network allows the delay or even gaps on monthly summary to be compiled and circulated, in the way of feedback to the data information sources.

5. FOREST AND WILDLIFE SECTOR INFORMATION SYSTEM

5.1. Background

A shortage of systematically collected statistics from the forest sector in Mozambique has been a constraint on the utilisation of the wildland resources on a sustainable basis and planning future needs and policy implementation.

In the past few years, statistics of the Forest Sector have been kept on an ad-hoc basis with industrial export data being maintained on a systematic basis.

It was characterised by the (a) weakness on the relationship between forest industries and Forest Provincial Services (b) weakness on the content of the forms (c) diversity of the data and information sources (d) use of Lotus 123 worksheets accessed through macros to capture, verify and price data and (e) lack of reliance on the existing information sources.

Very useful series were recorded and have lately been incorporated into the present and use of Lotus 123 worksheets was abandoned in favour of Microsoft Excel and Word worksheets.

Major gaps, within the previous forest data base were completed from the last forest industry survey carried out in 1986, with involvement of all forest enterprises (logging and wood processing companies), carpentry shops equipped with log sawing facilities and any other primary wood industry.

The new forestry information management system was introduced in January 1992 as a result of the improvement of the existing system. It is intended to provide comprehensive coverage of all forestry and wildlife activities in the provinces within a standardised format, and based mainly inclusion of various report forms.

5.2. New reporting system and data base presentation

The new reporting system plays an important role on the resources, use and planning at short, medium and long terms. It should not be interpreted as more than simply statistics demanded by the National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife (DNFFB). It is an enhancement of the authority of the Forestry and Wildlife Provincial Services (SPFFB) to be better informed on all forest sector activities in each of the 10 provinces. The DNFFB has chosen the SPFFB as the appropriate source of data information within the province.

These provincial authorities should collect forest sector data and information from several sources in their own provinces and check it for authenticity. The figures reported should be reviewed critically against local knowledge of actuality and, report forms should be scrutinised for completeness before their submission to the National Directorate.

The actual forestry database comprises:

A system of information gathering through a monthly reporting system based on the provincial forest service (SPFFB),

Data capture and verification on computers at the Economics and Planning Department (DEP) in Maputo,

Analysis and preparation of standard report by DEP to be submitted to the National Directorate,

Feedback and dissemination of these to the provincial level.

5.3. Coverage and data base areas

The data base coverage will expand in the future in scope to include all activities such as:

Control of forestry resources: Issue of felling licenses; License royalty fees; Primary forest products; and Penalties for transgressions;

Industrial production: Register of wood consuming industries; Supply of logs; Secondary forest production; and Price of forest products;

Exports;

Afforestation: Register of nurseries; Nursery production and sales; Register of commercial plantation areas; and Register of non-commercial plantation areas;

Wildlife: Observation of animals; Hunting and culling; and Control of resources;

Beekeeping activities;

World Food Program activities;

Human resources;

Financial control;

Forest projects Registration; and

Projects Budget Control.

There are four main ways of making the forestry national statistics network more dynamic and operational namely (a) creating a close relationship between the information sources and users (periodic visits to the main information sources), (b) feedback system implementation, (c) short training courses and workshops and (d) periodic forestry inquiries.

The Forest Resource Database includes:

Forest Regeneration, which plays a main role in the forest management. The total area regenerated after fire destruction and forestry species regenerated should help in the forest harvesting programming and fires protection planning. It would also be useful for stock growing prediction.

Wildlife Resources Management (Survey, Protection and Utilisation).

Survey: Area surveyed, animal species occurrence, species under the risk of disappearance.

Protection: Area under protection, species under protection, revenues from royalties, penalties for transgression.

Utilisation: Revenue from royalties, penalties for transgression and penalties for the illegal transit with wildlife products.

Sales in the local market and for exports.

5.4. Brief aspects of menu operations

The information management system for forestry sector in Mozambique uses three main Microsoft packages described as follows:

Microsoft Excel (Improvement previous form; Design of the new forms; Forms record);

Microsoft Word (Elaboration of instructions for the forms); and

Data Entry, Management and Maintenance (Updating and sorting of the data).

Each of the above mentioned data base areas is suitable for whatever the option. Once a certain database area is selected, an operation menu appears with:

Select province.

Select year.

Browse data.

Edit data.

Add new data.

Delete and pack.

Reindex data.

Exit for choice

5.5. Statistical information sources

The main sources of statistics have been:

Forestry and wildlife provincial office (SPFFB) which submits statistics directly to the National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife (DNFFB), through the Economics and Planning Department (DEP), covering such matters as license revenues, control activities;

Industrial enterprise report, which submits forestry product utilisation, forms to the SPFFB, the only statistical information source for the central level (DNFFB). These reports cover aspects of the forest production and state enterprises; and,

Public investment projects, which submit reports directly to the relevant department covering operational, personal and financial aspects of forest projects.

Within the National Directorate for Forestry and Wildlife (DNFFB), the Economics and Planning Department (DEP) has assumed the responsibility of designing and implementing an information database for the forest sector. This is intended to overcome the major differences from each SPFFB. A monthly report concerning information on (i) provincial level activities (ii) forest project activities (iii) industrial enterprises production, is elaborated and sent to the National Directorate.

5.6. Structure of the forms

In accordance with their destination and use, the forms are classified into four main groups, presented as follows:

Group A - Forms to be filled in and kept by companies.

(1-a) Logs entrance register

(1-f) Logs outlet/logs transit register

Group B - Forms to be filled in by the companies and submitted to the forestry provincial offices their checking.

(2-b) Logs supply to the sawmills/mills

(2-c) Wood processed production

Group C - Forms to be filled in and kept in the forestry provincial offices

(1-a) Control of the Licences

(1-b) List of the issue Licences

(1-c) Flown off production/balance

Group D - Forms to be filled in by the forestry provincial office and submitted to the National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife in Maputo.

(1-d) Penalties for transgressions and their revenues

(2-a) Enterprises register

(2-d) Forestry products price survey

(3-a) Exports undertaken within the provinces

(4-a) Reforestation; List of the nurseries

(4-c) List of commercial plantations

(5-b) Hunting products/production

(5-c) Wildlife resources use inspection

(8-a) Human resources registration and its updating

The timing for form submission can be (a) monthly, (b) quarterly and (c) annually.

REFERENCES

Christie, I.; 1996: Mozambique: Land of Peace and Promise, Bureau de informaçao pública, Maputo, Mozambique.

CPI, 1998: Business guide to Mozambique. LPE international, Maputo, Mozambique.

DEP/DNFFB; 1998: Relatório estatístico anual 1997. Mnistério da Agricultura e Pescas, DNFFB, Maputo, Moçambique.

DNFFB, 1997: Sector de Floresta e Fauna Bravia. Programa de Investimento Revisto. (1998-2002).

I.N.A., 1997: Statistical yearbook. Instituto Nacional de estatística. Maputo, Moçambique.

Kirk, A., 1992: A Review of the forestry sector. Maputo, Mozambique.

Saket, M., 1994: Report on the updating of the Exploratory National Forest Inventory. FAO/UNDP, MOZ/92/013, Maputo, Mozambique.

Saket, A.Taquidir, M; Banze, C.: Methodology and Results of the Forestry Vegetation Mapping at 1:250000. FAO/UNDP, MOZ/92/013, Maputo, Mozambique.