1. Overview
Zimbabwe is a sub-tropical and the predominant vegetation is typical savannah characterised by grassland with scattered trees. The growth rates of the natural forests are low, the average mean annual increment of just below 1m3 ha/yr.
The most and main important use of wood is as fuel for cooking and heating. Firewood is used by the majority of Zimbabweans who live in the rural areas. Commercial production of industrial wood from the natural forests is low. The main reasons are that the few commercially important species are scattered, the forests have been creamed off and the growth rate is low.
Commercial plantations of tropical pine and Australian hardwoods are currently the main source of industrial wood. These are concentrated in the east of Zimbabwe. These pine plantations produce pulpwood, sawlogs and veneer logs. The hardwood plantations are of eucalyptus species and black wattle (Acacia mearnsii). The main hardwood products are poles, pulpwood, charcoal and wattle extract.
Primary and secondary processing of industrial plantations produces sawn timber, veneer, plywood, fibreboard, pulp and paper, doors furniture, and engineered blocks. A large percentage of the sawn timber output and timber related products are exported. The main export markets are South Africa, Botswana, Europe and the US.
Development and expansion of the commercial forestry sector has been below expectations due to high interest rates, shortage of foreign currency and land distribution problems. The major industry has made Zimbabwe self sufficient in softwoods industrial timber and with a surplus available for export thus earning the nation valuable foreign currency.
