Management of indigenous tree species for the restoration of ecosystems, management of the water balance, provision of resources for rural livelihood, and sustainable production of wood are of great importance in Africa. The project, coordinated by Metla, focuses on developing methods for the management of indigenous, structurally complex forests of semi-arid East Africa. Communication and application of research methods will be organized by initiating experimental studies in Tanzania and integrating them with coaching of Tanzanian researchers. The main study topics include stand structure and dynamics, natural regeneration, growth periodicity of trees in the area, and pest problems as tree - herbivore interaction. Local farmers and communities will be consulted for knowledge of local needs, expectations and practices.

The project is partly funded by the European Commission (EU FP6 INCO/SSA project MITMIOMBO), and it is participated by Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) and University of Joensuu (Finland), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and from Tanzania Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), and Tanzania Association of Foresters (TAF).