MPINGO CONSERVATION PROJECT

African Blackwood (also known as “Mpingo”) is used to make clarinets, oboes and bag-pipes.The Global Trees Campaignis supporting the Mpingo Conservation Project in south east Tanzania, one of the poorest areas of the country, empowering local communities to control and manage their own forest resources, including sustainably harvesting the valuable timber. One community acheived certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for their harvesting operations in mid 2009.

FURTHER INFORMATION

African Blackwood Dalbergia melanoxylon is a small heavily branched tree that is widespread in sub-saharan Africa. It produces a very valuable timber known locally as mpingo. Exploited nationally for carvings and local subsistence use, African Blackwood has long been traded internationally, primarily for use in woodwind instruments such as clarinets, oboes and bagpipes. The level of harvesting is such that, despite its wide distribution, there is considerable concern over its status in the wild.

Through a partnership with the Mpingo Conservation Project, the Global Trees Campaign has been working African Blackwood conservation in the Kilwa district of southern Tanzania. The project is assisting villages to set up Participatory Forest Management (PFM), under which the community benefits from carefully managed sustainable harvesting of the trees on its land, bringing much needed income into this poor area.

After extensive negotiation and planning, one village achieved certification under the Forest Stewardship Council for its operations in mid 2009.

The Global Trees Campaign is also working in partnership with Environment Africa Trust (EAT) to secure a good market for this sustainably sourced timber and to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from these excellent achievements in Tanzania.

Read more about FFI’s involvement with this project at http://www.fauna-flora.org/mpingo.php

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