The study aimed at developing a new understanding of the Miombo woodland recovery
dynamics when exposed to single tree selection, slash & burn agriculture and charcoal
production. Five specific studies were conducted to examine different parts of this overall study:
Miombo woodland utilization, management and conflict resolution among stakeholders; speciesstem
curves as a tool in sampling the development of Miombo woodland species richness in
charcoal and slash & burn regrowth stands over time; the impact of human disturbance on the
floristic composition of Miombo woodland; regeneration and recruitment potentials of key
Miombo woodland species after disturbance; and age and growth rate determination using
selected Miombo woodland species. Different methods were developed for each specific study.
The study of woodland utilization and management employed semi-structured and key informant
interviews. STATISTICA statistical package version 6.0 was used for data collation and
analysis. Chi-square tests were used to show levels of significance in differences that existed
between different user groups. Species-stem curves were used to determine the sample size to
assess Miombo woodland dynamics in regrowth stands after slash & burn and charcoal
production, and a fixed-area method was used for the mature woodland stands. The study sites in
each of three study areas were selected to represent ages ranging from 2 to 15+ years since each
disturbance was terminated. The undisturbed woodland was chosen to act as a control. Various
analyses using the STATISTICA statistical package and CANOCO version 4.0 were conducted
to understand responses of Miombo woodland to these different disturbances. The research
revealed that single tree selection, slash & burn agriculture and charcoal production are the main
forms of Copperbelt Miombo woodland utilization which will always be there. Additionally, the
the Miombo woodland stands were characterized based on the size class profile they exhibit on
exposure to human disturbance factors through forest utilization. The characterization has
revealed that the woodland is dominated by light demanding species. As such single tree
selection harvesting does not support the regeneration and establishment of the timber species
which are canopy species under shade conditions. This implies that selection harvesting of
timber species, although it appears to be a non event in terms of disturbance at stand level may
be a disaster at population level. The study also revealed that clearing of the woodland for either
slash & burn agriculture or charcoal production results in enhanced regeneration and
establishment of the dominant Miombo woodland species. The study concludes that charcoal
production and slash & burn agriculture are important components to which the woodland
ecosystem is adapted. As such these disturbance factors may be considered as incorporated
disturbances. It is recommended from the study that woodland utilization and management
should integrate charcoal production and slash & burn agriculture into forest management.
Cutting cycles should be based on growth rate of the selected species. Timber species harvesting
should go side by side with these disturbance factors so as to open up the canopy in order that
maximum sunlight can reach the regeneration stock. The study also brings out the other
management and utilization opportunities (such as managing for Uapaca kirkiana and
Anisophyllea boehmii fruits) that arise from different development stages of the woodland.
Lastly, it is recommended to ascertain the optimum gap sizes for both charcoal production or slash & burn agriculture which would still support the Miombo woodland recovery.