10.2190/HPT6-WHT9-QQ4G-MLW6 HPT6WHT9QQ4GMLW6 4 The Environmental Degradation of the Miombo Woodland and the Potential of Agroforestry 209 220 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 HPT6WHT9QQ4GMLW6.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=HPT6WHT9QQ4GMLW6 3 H. M. Sibanda J. Odra GTZ/ARDA, P. O. Box 151 Masvingo, Zimbabwe The Miombo Woodland covers move then 60 percent of each of the four countries studied. This ecozone is characterized by <i>Brachystegia, Julbernadia</i>, and <i>Isoberlinia</i> tree species. It is dominated by the red tropical soils, namely, the ferralsols, acrisols, and luvisols with decreasing rainfall. The rainfall pattern is unimodal and falls in intense tropical storms which is a potential soil erosion hazard, especially on light to medium textured soils. The current problems in this ecozone are deforestation and overgrazing which have resulted in soil erosion and rangeland degradation in the areas of high population density. Continuous cropping of the inherently poor soils has lowered soil fertility. Agroforestry is a technology that might solve some of the problems of this ecozone. Agroforestry will sustain livestock and crop production, while keeping a check on environmental degradation. The technology can be introduced using selected indigenous species and some exotic species adapted to the environmental conditions. N. Hudson, <i>Soil Conservation Publication</i>, B. T. Batsford Limited, London, 1971. G. J. Bouyoucos, The Clay Ratio as a Criterion of Susceptibility of Soils to Erosion, <i>Journal of American Society of Agronomy, 27</i>, pp. 738-741, 1935. Devres Agricultural Research Resource Assessment, 1984: Volume II—Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, SADCC Report, 1984. X. Whitlow, Deforestation in Zimbabwe—Some Problems and Prospects: A Supplement to Zambia, <i>Geographical Proceedings of Zimbabwe</i>, 1980. X. Whitlow, Deforestation—Some Global and National Perspectives, <i>Geographical Proceedings of Zimbabwe, 12</i>, 1979. E. M. Shumba, Crop Production under Marginal Communal Areas Environments, <i>Zimbabwe Science News, 19</i>, 1985. Y. Katerere, Fuelwood Consumption Patterns and Supply in Rural Zimbabwe, <i>Working Paper 23</i>, Zimbabwe Energy Accounting Projects, 1984. <i>Reports on the State of Environment in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania</i>, SASREG, Mbabane, Swaziland, October 16-18, 1985. IUCN Report, <i>Towards Sustainable Development: A National Conservation Strategy for Zambia</i>, First Report, 1984. B. C. Ludngren and J. B. Raintree, <i>Sustain Agroforestry</i>, ICRAF Reprint No. 3, 1983.