TABLE 1. POPULATIONS, LITERACY, AND MIGRATION OF VILLAGES INTERVIEWED
AREA
(No. of villages)
Population represented
Households headed by
Number literate
Migration per year/ seasonal
Male
Female
Males
Females
Chinkhombe (7)
1148
202 (78%)
59 (22%)
165
96
6 out/ 2 snl
Zinaka (11)
775
178 (86%)
29 (14%)
105
54
1 in;2 out/ 2 snl*
Magobo (11)
434
103 (61%)
67 (39%)
47
24
5 in;1out/ 1 snl
Matunga (11)
1860
163 (74%)
58 (26%)
74
34
5 in/ 4 snl*
Mkaika (6)
637
102 (79%)
27 (21%)
38
16
0 / 2 snl
TOTAL (46 vill)
4854
748
240
429
224
11 in; 9 out;
11 snl
On balance, the migration trends are not changing population much around the forest; however, Chinkhombe is susceptible to emigration and Gaveni to immigration. The number of persons seeking seasonal work elsewhere is very low.
Without knowing the total adult population, it is difficult to estimate the percentage of literacy among school-age and older persons. If the total population of 4854 were divided into family units of 2 parents plus 1 grandparent plus 4 children = 7 persons, of which perhaps 4 are old enough to be literate, then we would expect nearly 3000 to be literate. The actual total is 653, which could then indicate a theoretical level of fewer than 25%.
In each area there are close to twice as many males as females qualifying as literate, even in Magobo (Kazika village area) where 39% of the households are stated to be headed by women.
The next table describes various occupations claimed on the village profile sheet. Virtually all the households represented engaged in farming as one occupation, so farming is not mentioned on the list. The information is also portrayed on the accompanying map in symbol form.
It is of interest to focus on those activities that depend on Chiulukire forest cover. Suffice it to say that beekeeping is a big occupation on all sides of the forest but particularly in the west and north (Chinkhombe and Magobo). Sawing, carpentry, and basketweaving are also important in those areas.
Two occupations with further documentation are those of mushroom collectors and broom traders. The market for these are in Katete as well as Chipata; a collection and marketing study was done on these and other nontimber forest products in February 2000.
The following table describes the abundance of livestock recorded on village survey sheets.
TABLE 3. LI VESTOCK CLAIMED BY VILLAGES AROUND CHIULUKIRE FOREST
Head of:
CHINKHOMBE
(Pop. 1148)
ZINAKA
(Pop. 775)
MAGOBO
(Pop. 434)
MATUNGA
(Pop. 1860)
MKAIKA
(Pop. 637)
TOTALS
(Pop. 4854)
Goats
2345
1655
539
220
461
5220
Cattle
198
120
133
156
154
761
Pigs
162
69
56
146
143
576
The following were also noted:
Chinkhombe: 50 Guinea fowl and 2 sheep
Zinaka: 7 rabbits
Magobo: 27 Guinea fowl and 30 doves
Matunga: 20 ducks
Chicken populations were not reported consistently from site to site so that information is not available.
Sheep were conspicuously absent in the area; the only reason given in the interview sheets from farmers in Geleta area is that sheep are difficult to buy for rearing purposes.
5. TABLES DESCRIBING TIMBER, FIREWOOD, CONSTRUCTION, AND CHARCOAL SPECIES, STATUS, AND RANKING IN CHIULUKIRE FOREST BY VILLAGE AREA
The following discussion on “Walk and Talk” and ranking applies to both timber and nontimber products enumerated in the forest area.
Villagers reported on tree uses and importance by interviews conducted inside the forest along walks (the “Walk and Talk” method) and by ranking exercises during which they placed stones beside listed tree species that they considered important to each use. These methods are described in more detail in annex.
The walk and talk delivered information as well as provided an informal way to open communication about forest resource use. The movement of people walking together through fresh air and nature provides a relaxed environment for exchange and draws out ideas that could go undiscovered in a more academic setting.
During the more formal ranking exercises, villagers placed a number of stones beside each tree named as useful for a specific use: the greater the importance of the species to that use, the greater the number of stones placed. Importance was defined by, and broken down into, several criteria that caused one species to be ranked higher than others as it accumulated more total stones rating each criterion.
BASED ON INDIVIDUAL VILLAGE RANKS AND THE NUMBER OF VILLAGES THAT CHOSE THE SPECIES, THE TOP THREE SPECIES IN EACH CATEGORY ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN EACH TABLE THAT FOLLOWS. The reader will find the following:
- The status of many of the highest-ranked timber species is rare or declining. Sometimes the status conflicts from one area to another.
- The criteria for quality firewood and quality charcoal are similar (few sparks, little ash and smoke, longlasting), as are the highest-ranked species.
It is worth noting that Pericopsis angolensis appears in all of the wood products tables that follow, that it is ranked among the top three for each use, and that at the same time its status is considered by the villagers to be rare.