Drivers of deforestation and potential for carbon trading in miombo woodlands

Africa's Miombo woodlands are vast, of high conservation value and essential for human well-being. This forest type plays a pivotal role in livelihoods of the majority of resource-poor rural communities in southern Africa. Majority of these communities have limited access to sources of employment and domestic income because they have little cash or other resources. It is, however, unfortunate that livelihood factors such as agricultural production and use of fire have constantly altered miombo woodlands. These livelihood factors have all profoundly contributed to degradation and in some cases depletion of the forest resources in southern Africa. Many studies have demonstrated that deforestation in miombo woodlands is one of the major contributors to global climate change. However, the question of what exactly drives woodlands deforestation at the regional scale remains largely unanswered. Over the last three decades, significant amount of evidence has coalesced around the general assumption that factors that drive tropical deforestation interact in a complex way and fluctuate significantly at global, regional and country levels. Not surprising all UNFCCC negotiations and key debates have tended to revolve around forests. This is mainly because of the realization that the objectives of mitigating climate change may not be reached without extensive action on deforestation and forest degradation. Therefore, a review of drivers of deforestation in miombo woodlands will help in deepening our understanding of what drives miombo woodlands deforestation and what the potential for future carbon trade is like.