Glossary and acronyms

afforestation	The process of covering bare or agricultural land with trees.
agroforestry	Managed use of woody perennials (trees, shrubs, bamboo, etc.) within agricultural or pastoral land use systems. In these systems both ecological and economic interactions are considered.
air dry weight	The moisture content, for example of firewood after being exposed over time to local atmospheric conditions.
alluvial	Soil that has been deposited by flowing water.
ambergris	A waxy substance from the sperm whale used in the manufacture of perfumes.
aril	An accessory covering of certain seeds.
boma	A fenced-in enclosure, often a live fence, to protect a camp or a herd of livestock.
calorie	A metric measure of energy which is the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water from 14.5 to 15.5 degrees C at a constant pressure of one atmosphere.
CIDA	Canadian International Development Agency.
coal equivalent	The heat content of a fuel in terms of the equivalent heat contained in an average tonne of coal.
coppicing	A method of encouraging regrowth in certain species by cutting the stem to near ground level. Often used as a method of regeneration which enables the grower to obtain 3 or 4 rotations before replanting.
dbh	A measurement of tree size indicating the diameter at breast height.
debe	One debe = approximately 20 litres or 20 kilograms.
deciduous	A tree that drops its leaves seasonally or annually.
drupe	A pulpy or fleshy fruit containing a single stone or pit.
economically important	In this handbook refers to all benefits that come from trees, both tangible and intangible and those with market as well as non-market values. The term economically valued is used interchangeably.
ESMAP	World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme.
exotic	In this handbook exotic refers to trees that come from outside the area and are foreign to users. Generally it is a reference to trees that are not native to Tanzania. However, in some cases farmers refer to trees as exotic if they are not local to their particular area.
FAO	The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
farm gate or forest site price	The price the farmer receives for products at the boundary of the farm or at the site in the forest, in the case of selling forest products. The price received excludes transport to market and other marketing costs. This term can sometimes be used for inputs as well.
fodder	Refers to tree parts such as leaves, flowers, or pods which are eaten by browsing or grazing animals.
henya	A red dye made from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis, a small shrub or tree native to Asia and the Middle East.
ICRAF	The International Council for Research in Agroforestry in Nairobi, Kenya.
IFS	International Foundation for Science.
indigenous	Growing naturally within a specific environment or within certain boundaries.
live fence	A row or hedge of live plants used to mark a boundary or prevent entry of animals or people to a certain area.
lopping	Cutting all lower branches and second-order branches - those that do not grow from the main stem, but from main branches.
MAI	A measurement of the increase in the growth of a tree giving the mean annual increment.
method	A way of planning, organizing, and implementing an activity or group of activities.
Miombo	An indigenous forest dominated by Brachystegia and Brachylaena species, found in Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and other east and southern African countries.
mswaki stick	A product of trees such as Salvadora persica used as a toothbrush. Also: chew stick.
multipurpose	Species that are grown to provide more than one crop, use or function. For example, a multipurpose tree can provide wood, leaves, fruits, and fodder while at the same time improving soil fertility.
NFTA	Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association.
NGO	Nongovernmental Organization: An organization which seeks funding, hires staff, and undertakes programmes but does not realize a profit.
nitrogen fixing	A process whereby trees convert nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrogen in the soil. Some plants have certain types of bacteria which cause nodules to form on their roots. The bacteria are able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plant can use to build proteins.
phloem	Part of the vascular system of a tree which allows sap and nutrients to descend. The xylem is the corresponding tissue allowing sap to rise.
pitsawing	A method of cutting logs lengthwise into planks with a large hand saw in which one person stands on top of the log and another person in a pit underneath.
pollarding	Cutting branches and often the top of a tree. This can be at a height which is beyond the reach of browsing animals.
pombe	An alcoholic drink.
resin	A thick sticky liquid produced by certain trees which becomes hard when exposed to air. It is used in medicines and to make varnishes and plastics.
RSCU	Regional Soil Conservation Unit, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sahel	The transitional zone of several hundred kilometres between semiarid deserts in northern Africa and the open woodland savanna to the south. It extends over 6000 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
scarification	The process of penetrating the protective coat of dormant seeds by abrasion, nicking, soaking in hot water or acid, or as a result of passage through the digestive tracts of animals or birds, all of which stimulate germination.
shamba	Field or farming area which is often not adjacent to the home.
silviculture	The branch of forestry science that is concerned with the propagation and management of trees.
stratification	The process of helping to activate nutrients within immature, dormant seeds by, for example soaking in hot water, thereby stimulating germination.
tannin	A type of acid (tannic acid) found in the bark of many trees. It is commonly used for tanning leather.
TSH	Tanzania Shilling. 350 TSH = 1 U.S. dollar (1992).
ugali	Corn meal. Also celled posho.
UNEP	United Nations Environmental Programme.
USDA	United States Department of Agriculture.
wildlings	Young seedlings which develop naturally in the wild. They are sometimes transplanted.