1. Overview

Namibia’s woody resources play a significant role in the country’s economy. The majority of the rural populations derive their livelihood from the forest resources. On the other hand, a limited forestry industry also obtains its raw material from these resources. Below is a brief description of the quantitative state of Namibia’s forests and the various wood products derived from them.

The main vegetation types available as a source for wood products and of economic interest to forestry development in Namibia are Savannahs and Woodlands. Beginning in 1996 up to date the Directorate of Forestry is carrying out forest inventories in these areas to quantify the woody resources mainly for strategic planning.

Tables 1 and 2 show summary statistics for various sampled areas within the Savannah and Woodland vegetation, from Forest Inventory reports that are available at the Directorate of Forestry,

Savannah vegetation occupy approximately 64 % (about 53 million ha) of the nation’s land area. They vary tremendously, from desert shrubs in the Western and Southern parts of the country which support large livestock and game populations, to Mopane trees in the North and Northwest. Mopane is also found in East Caprivi region.

In 1997 an area of 8 212 447 ha, in the Woody Savannah and Woodland and Camelthorn Savannah vegetation zone, was inventoried covering eastern and southern parts of Tsumkwe district, northern parts of Otjinene district and eastern parts of Okakarara districts. Forty-one (41) species were enumerated. The dominant height is about 16.5 m. There is about 101 stems/ha and the mean tree volume including branches for all species is 4.2 m³/ha. The average dry biomass including branches for all species is 3.2 tons/ha (see Table 1). Timber species such as P. Angolensis and B. Plurijuga are not found in these areas.

Woodlands occupy approximately 20 % (about 16 million ha) of the nation’s land area. They vary from savannah trees and woodlands in the North-Central Caving Region, Capri strip in the Northeast and Waterberg Plateau in the South, and riverine woodlands that constitute important dry season grazing, watershed protection; to large trees in the Erongo mountains. Riverine woodlands are rich in plant and animal biological diversity.

From a forestry point of view, woodlands dominated by Pterocarpus angolensis, Baikiaea plurijuga and Burkea africana are the most valuable. A Pterocarpus-Burkea dominated woodland covering an area of 607 949 ha was inventoried in 1996 in West Tsumkwe district (Tables 1 and 2). The estimated area of woodland where P. angolensis or B. africana is the first or second dominant species is 316 860 ha or 52.1% of the area. Fifty-three (53) species were recorded. The dominant height is about 22.3 m. There is about 99 stems/ha and the average tree volume including branches for all species is 17.8 m³/ha. There are about 18 P. angolensis and 458 B. africana seedlings per hectare. Most of the P. angolensis seedlings are less than 1.5 m high. The mean saw log volume of P. angolensis trees is 0.31 m³/ha or an equivalent average of 1 tree per ha. The average dry biomass including branches for all species is 12.5 tons/ha.

A Baikiaea-Pterocarpus-Burkea dominated woodland was inventoried in Kavango Region in 1997. The total area inventoried is 17 815 ha. More than 80% of the area was dominated by Baikiaea-Pterocarpus. Twenty-three (23) species were recorded. The dominant height is about 13.2 m. There is about 114 stems/ha and the mean tree volume including branches for all species is 38 m³/ha. The mean saw log volume of P. angolensis trees is 0.65 m³/ha and B. Plurijuga 0.28 m³/ha or an equivalent average of 1 tree per ha for both species. The average dry biomass including branches for all species is 20.6 tons/ha (See Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1: Mean height, number of trees, volume and biomass per hectare for all species (Dbh  5 cm)

Notes on Table 1:

Tree volume means the volume of the entire tree comprising of the main tree trunk and branch wood.

Tree biomass means the biomass of the entire tree comprising of the main tree trunk and branch wood.

Total number of trees in the sampled area is equal to the No. of trees/ha times Size in Ha. For example, for Western Tsumkwe District: 99 x 607 949 = 60 186 951 trees.

Total volume of trees in the sampled area is equal to the tree volume m³/ha. times Size, in Ha. For example, for Western Tsumkwe District: 17.8 x 607 949 = 10 821 492 m3.

Information on shrubs and saplings (Dbh < 5 cm) and grasses is available but not included here.

In Omusati Region, tree height includes Hyphaene petersiana (Makalani) and Sclerocarya birrea (Marura)

** In Oshana Region, tree height includes Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) and Diospyros mespiliformis

Table 2: Average stems and timber volume per hectare of P. angolensis and B. plurijuga (Dbh > 45 cm)

Timber volume means the volume of the main tree trunk excluding branch wood.

* P. angolensis and B. plurijuga were not found in the sample in these areas.

**There is a little bit of Baikiaea plurijuga in the north west of Omusati Region, in Uunkolokadhi Community Forest.

Riverine Woodlands are important dry season grazing areas and support a variety of plants and animals, including the human populations that directly depend on them. The ecological value of the ephemeral rivers such as Kuiseb, Huab and Swakop in draining and giving life to the Namib Desert is one of the most outstanding features of Namibia. The agricultural value of the Kunene, Kavango, Kwando, Chobe and the Zambezi rivers in the northern regions and the Orange River in the south are also crucial. Forest inventories still need to be carried out also in the Riverine Woodlands.

The Savannah and Woodland natural forest resources are being exploited for: commercial timber production for domestic and export markets; fuelwood (firewood and charcoal) for selected domestic and export markets; raw material (mopane roots) for export markets in ornamental wood; raw material for domestic wood carving industry; and wood mainly for domestic fencing and construction in rural communities. Prices charged for harvesting forest products are shown in Appendix 6.

The Directorate of Forestry estimates the current total economic value of forest resources exploitation to be N$ 1058.2 million per annum. A breakdown of this estimate into various common uses of forest resources is given in Table 3.

The main wood-products produced, consumed and traded in Namibia are sawn timber, firewood, charcoal, mopane roots, wood for carvings (curios) and poles for fencing and construction. Other wood products such as wood based panels, transmission poles, paper and paperboard etc are imported into the country. However, data on local production, consumption and trade, including trends during the last 5 years are not readily available. Available import/export data are shown in Tables 7a, 7b, 8, 9a and 9b.

Sawn timber: The forestry industry is not very strong in Namibia. One of the major constraints in the development of a viable forestry industry is the inadequate forest resources and an environment not conducive to large industrial plantations.

Most of the timber produced locally from Namibian sawmills is mainly used for furniture production. Between 1993-95 about 4 410 m³ of sawntimber were produced.

Klaeboe and Omwami 1997 reported that softwoods imports, mainly from South Africa, in 1996 were estimated at 25 000 m³ valued at N$ 25 million. However, it is unknown whether this is roundwood or sawnwood. On the other hand data from Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Tables 7a and 7b, show that about 31000 m3of soft sawnwood valued at N$47 million were imported between 1995-99. For the same period 4800 m3 of sawn hardwood valued at N$14.7 million was imported.

Charcoal: Namibia’s charcoal industry is one of the well-organised in Africa. Most of the commercial charcoal is made from bush encroachment species such as Acacia mellifera. A process has started to certify that the charcoal production conforms to environmental and sustainable management standards. This charcoal production is not associated with deforestation, but to remove unwanted bush on beef production farms. In 1997/98 13 537 tons and 433 tons of charcoal (DoF 1997/98 Annual Report) were exported to South Africa and Europe respectively. The size of the domestic market for charcoal is unknown. An estimate, probably, on the high side, is that this market is about 1000 tons annually with a retail value of N$1.5 million.

The export sales in 1996 is estimated at 6 000 tons to Europe and South Africa (Klaeboe and Omwami 1997). According to CBS 12000 tons were exported in 1997 while between 1997-999 a total of 25700 tons were exported (Tables 7b).

Firewood: Firewood is traded both in the formal and informal markets. However, data on the quantities and value of the firewood traded is not readily available. The total firewood consumption in Namibia in 1996 was estimated at 672 331 tons valued at N$ 103 899 000 (See Table 4). It is estimated that the total firewood consumption in Namibia will be 1 071 500 tons in the year 2006. Between 1997-99 over 1 500 m³ (See Table 9b) were exported.

Mopane roots: Mopane roots, harvested from Colophospermum mopane, are used as ornaments in fish aquaria and for decorative purposes. It is estimated that about 900 tons of mopane roots are harvested annually. The estimated quantity and value of mopane roots exported in 1996 is 625 000 Kg valued at N$ 1 242 000 (Table 5).

In 1997/98 four hundred and thirty six (436), tons of Mopane roots were exported to South Africa, 29 tons to United States and 152 tons to Europe. Other exported roots, including mopane roots, are shown in Table 8. According to the Directorate of forestry’s forest permit system, 15000 tons of mopane roots were exported between 1997-1999.

Carvings (curios): In Kavango and Caprivi Regions, local organisations are involved in making curios for sale to tourists. Individuals obtain licences from the Directorate of forestry to cut trees or collect dead material for such activities. No data is readily available on the number or volume of trees used for curio production, the value (N$) and quantity of curios produced and traded. It is estimated that the carvers use a total of 440 tons of wood annually. About 38 tons in 1997and 2 tons in 1998 of ornamentals (including curios) were exported (Table 8).

Poles for construction and fencing: The amount of poles for construction and fencing mainly in northern Namibia was estimated at 4 602 000 cubic meters in 1996, corresponding to about 3.3 million tons (Klaeboe and Omwami 1997). It takes about 9.5 years to replace used poles. It is estimated that by the year 2006 the consumption of poles will decrease to about 4 395 000 m³ or 3.15 million tons due to use of substitutes for poles.

Poles for transmission: Namibia needs transmission poles for its electrical grid and telecommunications system. Since the country does not have plantations to supply the poles, they are imported. Between 1993-95 a total of about 15 000 poles were imported.

Since Namibia does not have wood industries such as pulp and paper, particleboard etc., these wood products are imported. Among the main wood products imported are; Chipwood, Fibre board, Household and Sanitary, Newsprint, Paper and Paperboard, Particle board, Plywood, Printed Matter, Pulp (Chemical, Mechanical, Semi Chemical), Roundwood, Sawnwood (Hard and Soft), Sleepers, Veneer sheets, Wafer board, Woodwool, and Wrapping and Packaging.

Wood products worth a total of N$1.93 billion (CIF) were imported into the country between 1995-1999 (Table 7a). A total of 35700 tons of assorted wood products and about 99000 m³ of Chipwood, fuelwood, roundwood, sawnwood and sleepers were imported (Table 7b).

Wood products worth N$314.3 million were exported (Table 9a). Among the locally produced wood products, charcoal is Namibia’s main wood product export. Over 25700 tons valued at N$23.6 million were exported between 1997-99 (Tables 9a and 9b). Most of the other wood products exported seem to be re-exports or goods in transit through the country.