Miombo woodlands support agriculture, biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services across an
extensive part of sub-Saharan Africa. Miombo is frequently over-utilised with deforestation and
degradation resulting in significant land use and land cover change (LULCC). Understanding drivers of
LULCC is essential to achieving sustainable land management in miombo woodland regions. Within a
remote miombo area of south-west Tanzania in the Kipembawe Division, Mbeya Region, social
survey and ecological data were used to identify the direct and indirect drivers of LULCC. Our
findings show that tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) production results in an estimated annual
deforestation rate of 4,134 ± 390 ha of undisturbed miombo woodland, of which 56.3 ± 11.8% is
linked to the post-harvest curing process. This deforestation represents 0.55 ± 0.06% of the wooded
area of the Kipembawe Division. The perception of high incomes from tobacco cultivation has
encouraged migration of both agriculturalists and pastoralists into the area, resulting in higher
livestock numbers that lead to further degradation. Higher human populations need more woodland
resources such as fuelwood and building materials, and more farmland for food crops. Continued
deforestation will reduce the long-term profitability of tobacco cultivation due to a lack of fuel to
cure the crop and could render production unviable. Action is urgently needed to conserve globally
important biodiversity resources while enabling agricultural and pastoral activities to continue.
Improved governance, together with sustainable land management strategies and diversification of
livelihood strategies can reduce dependence on tobacco cultivation and contribute to a sustainable
future for this ecoregion.