Savings Account

Charcoal making using earth kilns in miombo woodlands of Phirilongwe Forest Reserve is one of the factors that negatively affect the soil seed banks in as far as tree regeneration is concerned. This is so because the practice significantly damages tree seed, thus, reducing greatly the quantity of viable miombo tree seed that was dispersed in the soil seed banks. The overall reduced numbers of tree seed emergents from the charcoal producing soils also elucidates that the charcoal making could lead to the decrease in tree species abundance and richness. The results also imply that practice negatively affects the distribution pattern of miombo tree species which could eventually lead to reduction in their species biodiversity.