3. Significance of the study

About a century ago, almost one third of Eritrea’s territory was covered with natural forest and extra vast area of acacia woodland. Now the country is left with less than 3% natural forest (highland and riverine forest) and about 1.4 million hectares of degraded acacia woodlands (Table-1). As the forests were deteriorated, tremendous important habitat of the wild life was dwindled and so for the degradation of land fertility due to high rate of soil erosion. The main reason for the aggravation of the process were intensive logging for timber, charcoal making, agricultural expansion, poles and post for traditional house ‘Hidmo’ and fire wood and generally unwise land use policy of the successive colonial Governments.

A government legislation banning the cutting of live trees is in effect since 1994, but the compelling demand for this energy source makes it hard to hold as people who are left with virtually no energy alternative in their hands will be forced to continue cutting. The biggest share, for cause of forest distraction, lies with tree cutting for the purpose of fuel wood. Timber cutting for use of construction poles follows this.

Proper data collection analysis and documentation is vital in planning, forest resources for a sustainable utilisation. However, due to lack of capacity & methodology, data management concerning forest products was very limited. Therefore, this paper focuses on aspects of wood production and consumption in the country during the last five years, and analyses the method of data collection and improvement of the national forest statistics process.