RICS research paper series Volume 6 Number 5

This paper presents an empirical analysis of indigenous timber extraction and the supply chain of the hardwood and timber trade in Tanzania.

The paper presents the patterns of linkage and control mechanisms that exist and the occurrence of illegal extraction and other illegal activities in the natural forests in Tanzania.

Data was collected during 1997 and from 2001 to 2004.

Respondents who provided data for this study were forest officials, timber trade agents, house builders, furniture makers and constructors.

The paper also analyses government’s efforts and strategies in the battle against unsustainable forestry practices, illegal logging operations and evasion of forestry royalty and taxes.

The paper provides an analysis of why hardwood for the local timber market and for export is supplied through an illegally controlled supply chain. Pit sawing operators, their world of work and their urban timber financiers are also analyzed. 

The findings from this study demonstrate that the country’s forest and tree resources in the natural forest and public land face massive degradation and overexploitation.

Unsustainable extraction of scarce tree species is widespread. Government’s hard work aimed at gaining an upper hand in the battle against illegal logging and trading of illegally sourced timber operations is ineffective.

Government’s requirement of suppliers of timber that they need to ensure that their products have been legally sourced and produced does not appear to exist  in tender documents.

There  also seems to be a lack of understanding of the complex structure of the hardwood timber supply chain. The findings explain why majority of the urban timber markets is supplied through illegal channels.