The professionalization of forestry activities, namely the management, use, processing and technical assistance to producers and communities, can contribute to the preservation of miombo woodlands.

The information was shared by researcher Isilda Nhantumbo, who spoke Thursday at the Miombo Regional Conference on scenarios for the sustainable future of the miombo forest. The speaker advocated the need to intensify regional actions for the conservation, management and sustainable use of the ecosystem, as well as to improve forest governance.

"The adoption of a long-term vision and combined measures for restoration, industrialization of the forestry sector, circular economy and reinvestment in local development is fundamental to reduce the disorderly clearing of the forest," he said.

For Isilda Nhantumbo, regional cooperation is also important for greater tracking, monitoring, research, and surveillance of the ecosystem.

The speaker noted that population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, biomass energy consumption, and climate change are the current causes of the changing cover and value of the miombo woodland.

For her part, researcher and speaker Natasha Ribeiro, who spoke on the socio-ecological dynamics, management of miombo forests, and economic value, said that this ecosystem benefits and feeds more than 70 percent of rural and urban populations in southern Africa.

Ribeiro said that most people feed on the nutritional benefits of the miombo, the energy, health, and other resources sought and obtained in this forest.

"This ecosystem functions as a safety net when, for example, drought affects agricultural activity and the land cannot provide the nutritional resources. The population relies on honey, mushrooms, and wild fruits to meet their needs," he stressed.

Natasha Ribeiro advanced that, in the social context, miombo supports rural and national economies in the southern region, in addition to favoring the development of nature-based tourism. "The miombo also helps in environmental conservation, carbon dioxide absorption, climate change effects, erosion, as well as protects watersheds, waterways, aquatic ecosystems and others," she stressed.