Chafuta, indigenous tree of Mozambique

Chafuta is an indigenous tree of Mozambique, also referred to as African teak. Most tropical hardwood in Southern Africa is from acacia trees, of which there are many different species. Tropical forest and trees on the savanna are rapidly disappearing in Mozambique due to the charcoal industry in Mozambique. Charcoal made of hardwood is used as fuel for cooking, cheaper than paraffine, gas or elctricity. The timber industry also takes it's toll, but the charcoal industry has basically left a landscape around the cities and towns that gives the impression of a war-struck country: barren, lifeless. No wonder that rainfall immediately lead to floods and erosion. For the poorest people producing and selling charcoal is often there only source of income. Local businessmen often linked to the government profit from the trade in charcoal. The government itself sells concessions for logging. It will be very hard to reverse this process. Gas has been found just off the coast of Mozambique and the huge Cahora Basa dam produces enough electricity for the country and more. Gas is exploited by South African companies and transported directly out of the country. Electricity from the hydro-electric power station is mainly sold to neigbouring countries. Local artists use woord/timber from idigenous trees to make sculptures, thus appreciating the value as well as adding value to this natural resource.