Abstract

The objective of this study was to document the utilization of forest resources for livelihoods in Zambia based on an analysis of data from the ILUA survey. The analysis of the ILUA data in which households indicated the types of forest products and services they obtained from woodlands in their area show that majority households (25%) fetched fuelwood, followed by construction materials such as poles and thatching grass (19%). A good number (16%) derived plant foods such as fruits and nuts as well as mushrooms. Equally, a considerable proportion of households (11%) were harvesting medicinal plants for household use and sale. Some households were producing charcoal (5%), sawn or industrial timber (5%) and wood carvings (4%) from the local forests. A number of households also obtained important animal products such as honey and bee wax (4%) and game meat and other edible animal products (5%). These results from the ILUA survey clearly show that indigenous forests and woodland resources are important sources of household energy and provide other important livelihood products and services for most rural households These findings also indicate that forests and woodland resources are critical to household food security especially during stressful conditions (drought and floods) and they are a “drug store” and ‘insurance” for the rural poor and underscore the need to ensure that these forest resources are sustainably managed.

Keywords:

Crops, forest products and services, Integrated Land Use Assessment (ILUA), livelihood activities, livestock, Zambia,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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The authors have no competing interests.