Comparative Study Between Government And Private Forest Plantations Management Practices: Case Studies Of Sao Hill And Green Resource Forest Plantations, Mufindi Iringa Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in Sao Hill and GRL for comparison of management practices applied between government and private forest plantations. The study focused at identifying existing management practices, examining cost involved in forest management practices, assessing forest stand parameters and identify challenges facing management practices in Sao Hill and GRL in five years from 2012 to 2016. Data were collected through direct measurement in the forest stand parameters, structured interview for key informants, review of documents and observation. To access the stand parameters, a systematic sampling with two stages stratified sampling technique was applied and strata of age 5, 10 and 15 years were established for Pinus patula and Eucalyptus grandis. With equal allocation 180 sample plots of 0.04 ha were laid out and measurements were taken for estimation of stem quality, diameter and height, stand density, volume and basal area per hectare. Data collected were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS computer programs for descriptive and inferential statistics tools. The findings indicate that Sao Hill and GRL forest plantations practices similar major forest management practices based on establishment, tending operations, and forest protection and nursery silviculture. Between 2012 and 2016 Sao Hill was paying an annual average cost rate of TZS 6 811.06/man/day task and planting cost of TZS 70 247.32/ha for casual labour. On other hand GRL was paying annual relative lower cost rate of TZS 4 917.30/man/day and planting cost of TZS 16 750.15/ha. However Sao Hill spent the lowest cost in nursery with average of TZS 92.29 per seedling compared to TZS 145.92 per seedling in GRL. The results showed that there was a significant cost differences between Sao Hill and GRL and therefore concluded that Sao Hill spent extra cost per unit area in many areas of forest operations which should also reflect the production efficiency. Study also indicated that Sao Hill and

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GRL performed basic tending (weeding, pruning and thinning) as recommended in Technical Orders specifications. Stand density performance in P. patula was in moderate with Sao Hill having average of 692 sph in age 5 years’ strata alongside GRL with 520 stems per hectare, and for E. grandis Sao Hill performed better in the strata of age 5 years with mean density of 614 sph, while GRL did well for age 10 years strata with mean of 519 sph. With applied spacing of 3m x 3m still both plantations could have achieved higher stand density per hectare under proper practices. In volume performances for P. patula, the significant variations were observed in age 5 and 15 years strata whereby GRL had higher mean volume of 53.6m3/ha and 184m3/ha compared to mean volume of 24.2m3/ha and 154.1m3/ha in Sao Hill. For E. grandis major volume variations were found at ages 5 and 15 years as Sao Hill respectively had higher mean volumes of 109.1m3/ha and 261.3 m3/ha compared to 67.6m3/ha and 112.4m3/ha in GRL probably because E. grandis in Sao Hill was established under coppice regenerations. The implication of volume parameters for P. patula was associated with stem form quality of 96.43% straightness in Sao Hill and 92.79% in GRL while the E. grandis having 93.0% straightness form in Sao Hill and 92.89% straightness in GRL stands. Consequently from 2012 to 2016 Sao Hill and GRL plantation were prone to fire incidents and GRL lost 1592.5 ha of planted forests while Sao Hill lost at least 227.14 ha because of uncontrolled human activities and low technology in firefighting gears. Fund limitation was to some extent influencing management of Sao Hill and GRL forest plantations regarding fire and other issues.