Papers by Pantaleo Munishi
Global ecology and biogeography, Jun 14, 2024
Nature, Jan 9, 2024
Trees structure the Earth's most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree ... more Trees structure the Earth's most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations 1-6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth's 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories 7 , we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world's most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees.
Environmental and Resource Economics, Aug 16, 2023
A billion rural people live near tropical forests. Urban populations need them for water, energy ... more A billion rural people live near tropical forests. Urban populations need them for water, energy and timber. Global society benefits from climate regulation and knowledge embodied in tropical biodiversity. Ecosystem service valuations can incentivise conservation, but determining costs and benefits across multiple stakeholders and interacting services is complex and rarely attempted. We report on a 10-year study, unprecedented in detail and scope, to determine the monetary value implications of conserving forests and woodlands in Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains. Across plausible ranges of carbon price, agricultural yield and discount rate, conservation delivers net global benefits (+US$8.2B present value, 20-year central estimate). Crucially, however, net outcomes diverge widely across stakeholder groups. International stakeholders gain most from conservation (+US$10.1B), while local-rural communities bear substantial net costs (-US$1.9B), with greater inequities for more biologically important forests. Other Tanzanian stakeholders experience conflicting incentives: tourism, drinking water and climate regulation encourage conservation (+US$72M); logging, fuelwood and management costs encourage depletion (-US$148M). Substantial global investment in disaggregating and mitigating local costs (e.g., through boosting smallholder yields) is essential to equitably balance conservation and development objectives.
Open Journal of Ecology
Tanzania's Ruaha landscape is prominent for its potential wildlife resources, which play a key ro... more Tanzania's Ruaha landscape is prominent for its potential wildlife resources, which play a key role in sustaining the economy and livelihoods of the people. However, most of these resources are illegally obtained and traded in different places within and outside the Ruaha landscape. Due to its illegal nature, most of the important information regarding the trade is poorly documented. Therefore, the current study aimed first, to explore the origin and destination of wildlife products; second, to assess the relationship between hunters and buyers or customers; third, to assess the means used to transport wildlife products; and lastly, to assess who influences people to engage in illegal hunting and trade activities. In addition, we assess the materials used in the exchange of wildlife products. Semi-structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to collect information from 123 respondents. Social network analysis was used to indicate the origin and destination of wildlife products. The findings show that 70% of wildlife products originate from the Ruaha National Park and MBOMIPA wildlife management areas, with the remaining 30% originating from villages. The majority of respondents (65%) reported transporting wildlife products by foot and bicycle as the primary modes of transportation. Suppliers of wildlife products are reported to have close and long-term relationships with their customers and traders, with most of whom being friends and relatives. We found most poachers to be influenced by their friends and relatives in terms making decision to engage in illegal wildlife trade. In addition, crops like maize and rice were the most popular products used to exchange with wildlife products in the Ruaha landscape.
East African Journal of Forestry and Agroforestry
Agroforestry systems and practices are perceived to improve livelihood and sustainable management... more Agroforestry systems and practices are perceived to improve livelihood and sustainable management of natural resources. However, factors influencing their adoption in various regions require further investigation as they differ in biophysical conditions and societal characteristics. This study was conducted in Kilombero district to investigate factors influencing the adoption of different agroforestry systems and practices in agro-ecosystems and farming systems. Household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used in data collection. Descriptive statistics and Multinomial Regression Analysis in SPSS were used for data analysis. Results show that Agrosilvopasture and Agrosilviculture systems were the dominant agroforestry systems while the home garden and Mixed Intercropping were the dominant agroforestry practice. There is a potential in agroforestry systems and practices in terms of product diversification and biodiversity conservation though their ado...
The aim of the study was to assess plant species composition and its relation with soil seed bank... more The aim of the study was to assess plant species composition and its relation with soil seed bank as a basis for forest restoration through natural regeneration in Zaraninge and Mbwebwe coastal forests, Bagamoyo District Tanzania. Eighteen sample plots of size 0.07 ha were established systematically along transect in each of the two forests. Soil samples were collected within each plot at 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm depths. The analysis was based on IVI computed from the average of relative basal area, density and frequency. Soil samples were analyzed for seed density of different plant species at the different depths. 62 and 50 plant species were identified in Zaraninge and Mbwebwe forests respectively. Out of 62 vascular plants identified in Zaraninge three species were rare plants, 35 common species and seven endemic to coastal forests. Mbwebwe forest had three rare plants, 26 common species and five endemic to coastal forests. The Shannon-Winner and Simpson Diversity Indices wer...
Journal of Tanzania Association of Foresters, 2004, 10:14-25One of the major ways of mitigating c... more Journal of Tanzania Association of Foresters, 2004, 10:14-25One of the major ways of mitigating carbon emissions is by emission avoidance or conserving existing carbon (C) pools on the land through slowing deforestation or improved forest harvesting practices. Field measures of tree dimensions and chemical soil analysis for organic carbon were used to quantify the carbon (C) storage potential of three tropical montane rain forest ecosystems; one on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and two (Usambara and Uluguru) in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. The above ground and root carbon of trees ranged from 295±8 to 5/7 ± /7 o:'. The tree carbon storage was lowest in the Kilimanjaro forest (295±8 (SD) t h"), and highest in the Usambara forest (5/7 ± /7 (SD) t s'. The C storage in the Ulugurus was 388± /0 (SD) t «'. The soil carbon storage (/423.7 t h") in Kilimanjaro was significantly higher than that in tree biomass. On the other hand the soil carbon (4/8 ± /00 and 295 ± 53 t h") in the Usambara and Uluguru respectively) was significantly lower than the biomass carbon in both forests in the Eastern A rc forests. The potential of these ecosystems to act as carbon sink and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions is evident. This capacity for carbon storage. population pressure and the extensiveness of these forests in the region makes their conservation of global significance for carbon emission mitigation
Background: Mangrove forests have gained recognition for their potential role in climate change m... more Background: Mangrove forests have gained recognition for their potential role in climate change mitigation due to the carbon sequestration of the productive ecosystems and storage in the sediments that are trapped by the mangrove tree roots and pneumatophores. Africa hosts about 19% of the world’s mangroves, yet there are relatively few studies that have examined the carbon stocks of African mangroves, and the studies available report great differences among sites and amongst the different pools of carbon stocks, particularly between the above ground carbon stored in trees (AGC) and organic carbon stored within the sediment - ‘soil organic carbon (SOC)’. We investigate if AGC and SOC carbon stocks differ with increasing seaward distance for estuarine mangroves in Tanzania and, how our results compare to those reported elsewhere across Africa.Results: AGC ranged between 10.9-54.9 Mg C ha-1. Stem density, basal area, mean diameter and mean height increased with increasing seaward dist...
Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 2011
In light of the significance that ecosystem service research is likely to play in linking conserv... more In light of the significance that ecosystem service research is likely to play in linking conservation activities and human welfare, systematic approaches to measuring, modeling and mapping ecosystem services (and their value to society) are sorely needed. In this paper we outline one such approach, which we developed in order to understand the links between the functioning of the ecosystems of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains and their impact on human welfare at local, regional and global scales. The essence of our approach is the creation of a series of maps created using field-based or remotely sourced data, data-driven models, and socio-economic scenarios coupled with rule-based assumptions. Here we describe the construction of this spatial information and how it can help to shed light on the complex relationships between ecological and social systems. There are obvious difficulties in operationalizing this approach, but by highlighting those which we have encountered in our own...
For WWF/CARE Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2007
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 2009
Wetlands ecosystems are diverse and have diverse ecological, environmental, socioeconomic and cul... more Wetlands ecosystems are diverse and have diverse ecological, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural values that have not been fully quantified in Tanzania. This study was conducted to quantify the contribution of wetlands to socio-economic well being of the local communities adjacent to the ‘Nyumba ya Mungu’ wetland system in Kilimanjaro region Tanzania. Specifically the study assessed the contribution of wetland system to household income and food security and problems associated with the utilization of the wetland. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected by use of structured questionnaire administered to different households whose income and food depend mainly on this wetland system. Secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished reports from various sources. Participant observation was used to supplement information from questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Results indicat...
International Forestry Review, 2015
This article synthesizes information on climate vulnerability of biophysical systems in forests, ... more This article synthesizes information on climate vulnerability of biophysical systems in forests, woodlands and coastal wetlands of Africa. Current knowledge indicates that forests and woodlands are sensitive to changes in precipitation, temperature and droughts and are already experiencing dramatic shift in species distribution. They are also undergoing changes in composition, structure and recovery potential due to increased anthropogenic activities exacerbated by climate change. Sea level rise is the greatest climate change challenge that coastal wetlands will face. It can affect coastal wetlands through alteration of inundation period, erosion and salt water intrusion. However, outcomes of interacting factors like temperature increase, variability in precipitation, extreme weather events and carbon dioxide concentration in forests and woodlands are uncertain. Research and models on climate vulnerability in different forest types should be done to improve understanding of climate vulnerability of biophysical systems, adaptation and mitigation potentials thereby guaranteeing achievements of Millennium Development Goals.
International Forestry Review, 2015
Forests, woodlands and coastal wetlands of Africa serve important ecological functions and provid... more Forests, woodlands and coastal wetlands of Africa serve important ecological functions and provide goods and services that contribute significantly to livelihoods at local, national and global levels. These ecosystems however are vulnerable to climate change impacts that affect their capacity to deliver the ecosystem goods and services. Some impacts will have positive effects and can be taken as opportunities while some will have severe negative impacts that require adequate mitigation measures of the impacts to reduce the impact on the socioeconomic systems. This article reviews the information on climate vulnerability of socioeconomic systems in moist forests, woodlands/savannas and coastal wetlands of Africa to identify the likely impacts of climate change on livelihoods. Climate change will have profound impacts on moist forest of Africa including reduction of the capacity of the forests to supply the ecosystem goods and services that contribute to livelihoods and associated socioeconomic systems. The water catchment potential of moist forests will be undermined reducing livelihoods associated with water resources. Impacts on woodlands/savannas will undermine the resources available in the woodland for human wellbeing including woodfuel, food, and other materials necessary for human health. Generally climate change will impact negatively the forest and woodland/savannas ecosystems resulting into either direct or indirect effect on the services provided by the ecosystems and associate livelihoods. But also climate impact on agriculture resulting into low production and increased dependence on forests will lead into degradation or expansion of agriculture into forests to compensate for the low production hence deforestation and degradation and more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among the major impacts of climate change on coastal wetlands include reduced water levels and under worst scenarios drying of some wetlands. Given the fact that coastal wetlands support a wide range of livelihood activities such as fisheries and multitude of livelihoods climate change will greatly undermine the capacity of the coastal wetlands to support fisheries and related livelihoods. Such impacts will negatively affect livelihoods and socioeconomic systems associated with the coastal resources Monitoring and mitigating the impacts of climate change on the moist forests, woodlands/savannas and coastal wetlands is imperative for sustaining their socioeconomic systems and related livelihoods.
International Journal of Bonorowo Wetlands
Carbon sequestration is one of the most important ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosyst... more Carbon sequestration is one of the most important ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosystems. Despite this, most Tanzanian carbon storage research has focused on terrestrial environments. Carbon and volume prediction models for the mangrove ecosystem in Tanzania's Rufiji River Delta were constructed in this study. The created models were utilized to calculate carbon emissions. At various depths, the importance of soil organic carbon as a carbon storage was also evaluated. Using linear regression, a damaging sample of 50 trees spanning various DBH size classes was used to create biomass and volume, prediction models. Wet oxidation was used to determine the amount of organic carbon in the soil. Biomass models for stems, branches, roots, leaves, and twigs and volume prediction models for total volume were constructed. At P0.05 and P0.001, respectively, all linear and power form models constructed were significant. At 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, and 30-60 cm, organic carbon was 39.61 t ha-1, 28.04 t ha-1, and 32.85 t ha-1, respectively. The surface layer (0-15 cm) had considerably more soil organic carbon (39.61 t ha-1) than that at 15-30 cm (28.04 t ha-1) and 30-60 cm (32.85 t ha-1) depths (P0.05). The most biomass C was contributed by Rhizophora mucronata (39.87%), followed by Avicennia marina (39.86%). (28.06%). The smallest contributions came from Sonneratia alba (2.58%) and Lumnitzera racemosa (1.98%). Rhizophora mucronata contributed 39.3% of the overall volume, whereas Avicennia marina contributed 27.1%. Overall, soil organic carbon (61.6%) was nearly twice that of vegetation carbon (38.4%), highlighting the importance of soil as a carbon storage in mangrove ecosystems.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Forest Ecology and Management, 1994
Abstract Between February and March 1990 a study was carried out at Kiwira Forest plantations in ... more Abstract Between February and March 1990 a study was carried out at Kiwira Forest plantations in Southern Tanzania to investigate wind damage to Pinus patula stands, and to relate the damage to various factors that influence windthrow in forest plantations. It was found that wind damage at Kiwira occurred mainly during the rainy season. The damage occurred mainly by stem breakage and/or severe bending (19.4–32.6%) and to a lesser extent by uprooting (4.5–9.2%). A positive and significant relationship between the height/diameter ratio and the wind damage by stem breakage plus severe bending and the total damage was found. Overstocking was a major factor in increasing the risk of wind damage, as it contributed to increasing the height/diameter ratio, whereas the influence of soil on wind damage was not evident. Over 30% of the trees in the study area have been wind damaged before the rotation age. Wider initial spacing (3 m × 3 m) followed by early and heavy thinnings will produce wind-firm trees and reduce the risks of wind damage.
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Papers by Pantaleo Munishi