Ecosystem services in miombo woodlands: challenges and opportunities to advance policy-relevant research

Abstract

Over time, African communities had a close relationship with miombo woodlands, a socio-ecological system providing key ecosystem services (ES) supporting the livelihoods of >100 million people. Charcoal production and agriculture led to deforestation and forest degradation, contributing to the erosion of ES provided by miombo woodlands. While studies assessing ES across time and space have been published, assessments specifically targeting miombo woodlands are scarce. To synthesize research assessing ES provided by miombo woodlands a systematic review was developed, including methods and indicators used for ES evaluation. Overall, results show that publications have increased over time (2000–2024), with Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia as the main geographical areas of the publications assessed. The majority of the publications focused on provisioning services (food supply, wood fuels, raw materials and timber), followed by regulation and maintenance services (climate regulation and soil quality), and cultural services (scientific research and heritage). Modelling and mapping and forest inventories and/or field assessments were used to assess biophysical processes, while interviews, focus group discussions were methods applied to assess cultural ES. Wood biomass and volume, forest products, and edible plant records were pinpointed as indicators used to quantify forest products provided. Wood and soil carbon stock and soil nutrient stock were identified as applied to quantify the carbon in wood, grass and soil and the nutrients in the soil. An asymmetric distribution of research on ES in the miombo woodlands was observed, suggesting knowledge gaps between countries that may influence policies and labels for natural resource management. Based on the evidence synthesised, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates research priorities, ES assessment, and policy applications to guide future research and the sustainable management of miombo woodlands.