Tanzania’s ‘magical tree’ verging on extinction

By Kizito Makoye

MTWARA, Tanzania (AA) - The African blackwood tree, known for its medicinal effects and fine carving texture, is on the verge of extinction due to illegal logging in Tanzania and a growing appetite for wooden sculptures.

“We need to take urgent steps to preserve this tree, which is diminishing and will soon be extinct,” said Deusdedit Bwoyo, assistant director of forestry development at Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.

Bwoyo urged carvers and furniture makers to consider using alternative trees such as teak as the government is desperately trying to salvage the blackwood tree.

The African blackwood, known locally as Mpingo, is an exceptionally hard and dense black beautiful wood found in East Africa. It is one of the most intensely black woods known, which combined with its very high density, fine texture and ability to polish it very smoothly, has made it highly valuable.

Wood from the Mpingo tree is used to make flutes, clarinets, oboes and even bagpipes, making it one of the most valuable trees in the world.

But illegal logging has apparently pushed this precious tree to the verge of extinction as its numbers drastically drop, officials said.

“We are considering to completely ban its export for some time to preserve the national heritage,” Bwoyo told Anadolu Agency.

A surge in illegal logging is devastating native trees across the East African country despite efforts by local authorities to prevent the forest losses.

- Surging demand

Hundreds of tons of endangered blackwood trees are being cut every day to satisfy surging demand for souvenir carvings, classical-style furniture and musical instruments in China and Europe, posing an increasing threat to the rare tropical tree, officials said.

Although Tanzania has an export ban on certain tree species in place, observers said lax enforcement has allowed the illegal harvesting and export of endangered trees to continue unabated.

Tanzania has 33 million hectares of forests and woodland, but the country has been losing more than 400,000 hectares of forests a year, according to the United Nations.

As part of its broader push to protect endangered blackwood trees, the Tanzanian government has established new timber plant trees with similar characteristics to blackwood and African mahogany.

“Furniture manufacturers and carvers should consider using other trees,” Bwoyo stressed.

As a small, gnarled tree native to Tanzania, the Mpingo grows extremely slowly, and scientists say it reaches maturity after 70 to 100 years

As the tree becomes seriously threatened, observers say there is growing concern among musical instrument manufacturers in Europe that supplies of the high-quality wood are becoming limited.

- Conservation measures

As part of efforts to protect the rare tree, officials are working with two communities in southern Tanzania through a forest management initiative dubbed the Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative to conserve endangered forest habitats by promoting the sustainable and socially equitable harvesting of the valuable African blackwood.

The initiative has helped local communities in Kilwa and Mtwara conserve more than 100,000 hectares of forest land, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.

As a symbol of the Makonde people, a transboundary tribe living in southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique who are renowned for their prowess in wood carvings and expressive tattoos boldly painted on their faces, the tree has had a huge healing potential.

“We use it for the treatment of many ailments including malaria, diarrhea and even headache,” said Zindzi Masigane, a local Makonde carver.

Over the years, however, harvesting of this rare tree species has led to its rapid degradation.

“It is hard to find a free standing mature tree unless you go deeper into the forest,” said Masigane.

The Makonde carvings are part of a fully-fledged souvenir industry employing hundreds of people in Tanzania that contributes significantly to the economy.

Despite various efforts to preserve the Mpingo, local conservationists are increasingly worried by the current rate of deforestation.

“If we cannot reverse this trend, even the musical instrument industry will also be affected,” said Charles Meshack, executive director of Tanzania’s Forest Conservation Group, a local charity campaigning to save the tree.

Local villagers prize the Mpingo, which is Tanzania’s national tree, for its medicinal effects.

Local midwives in Mtwara use its leaves to speed up obstructed labor.

“In remote villages where hospitals are far, women usually give birth at home, and this tree has been very useful,” said Salima Mtowo, a traditional midwife.

In other parts of the world, experts say musicians and musical instrument makers value the timber for its unique tonal qualities and durability.

It is estimated that between 7,500 and 20,000 Mpingo trees are felled for musical instruments each year.

The export value of the Mpingo can be as high as $25,000 per cubic meter, and yet villages where the tree grows receive as little as $30 for logs of the same amount.

But the Tanzanian government is taking steps to save the tree from extinction.

It is trying to encourage nearby villages to manage their own forest resources under the Participatory Forestry Management strategy.

It means they will also receive more money when the trees are felled legally.

“This tree is a pride of our nation. We cannot allow it to go away,” said Masigane.