Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe

To understand the potential role of forest products in household livelihoods, a study of the woodcraft industry in Zimbabwe was initiated. The woodcraft industry has increased steadily since the late 1980s. The factors driving the upsurge in the woodcraft industry are: (1) the increased demand by to...

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Main Authors: Braedt, O., Standa-Gunda, W.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2000
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18203
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author Braedt, O.
Standa-Gunda, W.
author_browse Braedt, O.
Standa-Gunda, W.
author_facet Braedt, O.
Standa-Gunda, W.
author_sort Braedt, O.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description To understand the potential role of forest products in household livelihoods, a study of the woodcraft industry in Zimbabwe was initiated. The woodcraft industry has increased steadily since the late 1980s. The factors driving the upsurge in the woodcraft industry are: (1) the increased demand by tourists; and (2) the need by rural households to find cash income sources. The structural adjustment programme, with one of its emphases being the decontrol of the currency, has probably played a key role in driving the rise in woodcraft production. Although all markets have a committee and all have some basic rules governing their operations, few rules are strictly enforced. There is also a lack of enforcement of the national legislation that governs the use of the tree resources. The local traditional rules governing resource use from the commons are also not strong. Given the problems in the national legislation and in the local rules, it is difficult to see how the resource can be managed on a sustainable basis. It appears that the benefits from the industry may not be substantial given the lack of interest in the market from outsiders, and the various elites who could monopolise the trade due to the lack of enforcement structures in place. In communal areas, where deforestation is advanced, the selective use of certain species for carving is likely to drive the species to local extinction. The carvers are likely to switch to different tree species to maintain their production levels.
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spelling CGSpace182032025-01-24T14:21:05Z Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe Braedt, O. Standa-Gunda, W. crafts forest products markets structural adjustment wood tourism To understand the potential role of forest products in household livelihoods, a study of the woodcraft industry in Zimbabwe was initiated. The woodcraft industry has increased steadily since the late 1980s. The factors driving the upsurge in the woodcraft industry are: (1) the increased demand by tourists; and (2) the need by rural households to find cash income sources. The structural adjustment programme, with one of its emphases being the decontrol of the currency, has probably played a key role in driving the rise in woodcraft production. Although all markets have a committee and all have some basic rules governing their operations, few rules are strictly enforced. There is also a lack of enforcement of the national legislation that governs the use of the tree resources. The local traditional rules governing resource use from the commons are also not strong. Given the problems in the national legislation and in the local rules, it is difficult to see how the resource can be managed on a sustainable basis. It appears that the benefits from the industry may not be substantial given the lack of interest in the market from outsiders, and the various elites who could monopolise the trade due to the lack of enforcement structures in place. In communal areas, where deforestation is advanced, the selective use of certain species for carving is likely to drive the species to local extinction. The carvers are likely to switch to different tree species to maintain their production levels. 2000 2012-06-04T09:06:11Z 2012-06-04T09:06:11Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18203 en Braedt, O., Standa-Gunda, W. 2000. Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe . International Tree Crops Journal 10 (4) :367-384.
spellingShingle crafts
forest products
markets
structural adjustment
wood
tourism
Braedt, O.
Standa-Gunda, W.
Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe
title Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe
title_full Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe
title_short Woodcraft markets in Zimbabwe
title_sort woodcraft markets in zimbabwe
topic crafts
forest products
markets
structural adjustment
wood
tourism
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18203
work_keys_str_mv AT braedto woodcraftmarketsinzimbabwe
AT standagundaw woodcraftmarketsinzimbabwe