Woodlands provide wild foods as a dietary supplement for communities, and they provide a habitat for activities such as beekeeping and hunting.

Woodlands and forests also provide timber, poles and other construction products, materials for craftmaking, tool handles and household utensils. Mopane, for example, is greatly desired as a strong termite-resistant construction wood and for firewood, while species such as Zambezi teak, Mukwa (Kiaat) have been heavily exploited for furniture, parquet blocks, railway sleepers, etc. Other important timber species are Muwanga, Pod mahogany, African ebony, Panga panga and Leadwood.

Forests and woodlands are the source of many non-wood products, including extractives such as bark, dyes, fibres, gums, incense, latex, oils, resins, shellac, tanning compounds and waxes.

Forest logging and timber sales contribute significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of basin countries, thus boosting their economies and providing employment to thousands of people. In Tanzania, forests contribute four percent of GDP.

Important roles played by forests

Climate regulation – large blocks of forests have great influence on the climate. They act as buffers and regulate the climate over a large part of the land surface. Gas regulation – ecosystems also play a crucial role as carbon dioxide sinks and in the production of oxygen. Tropical forests contain up to 100 times more carbon dioxide in their vegetation and soils than croplands and pastures. Some of this carbon is absorbed from the polluted environment in the basin. Watershed protection – forests help stabilise the land by reducing soil erosion. This allows for more water, which would otherwise be lost where there are no forests, to be captured. Trees protect soil against erosion, runoff and compaction. Areas protected by forests also act as a source of water for local communities. Global Water Partnership (GWP)

Uses and values of forestry products
Forest resources have various uses and values in the Basin, including ecological, cultural and socio-economic. They ensure a regular supply of fresh water, prevent flooding, protect crops from wind damage and prevent soil erosion and siltation of riverbeds downstream. Forests are also regarded as new land for expansion of food production and settlements.

Forests provide the primary source of energy in the Basin in the form of firewood and charcoal. About 74 percent of total energy requirements of the eight basin states comes from biomass. Woodfuel makes up a larger share of energy resources in all basin states with Namibia getting 91 percent of its energy needs from fuelwood, followed by Malawi and Tanzania at 90 percent, Botswana 73 percent, Zambia 62 percent and Zimbabwe 57 percent. Other rural industries that consume significant amounts of woodfuel include brick manufacturing, charcoal burning, lime production, fish-smoking, beer-brewing, and coffee, tea and salt-drying.

The high costs of alternative energy sources such as electricity in urban areas have translated into high urban woodfuel demands, leading to severe forest and woodland depletion in the peri-urban areas.

Forests are also useful for recreational and cultural purposes. They meet the spiritual needs of the indigenous people through specified tree species and blocks of woodlands conserved by communities for cultural reasons such as traditional rain-making ceremonies.