Over the past century, Norway's forests have gone from being severely depleted to becoming a thriving natural resource. Through systematic work and the implementation of the national forest inventory (NFI), Norway has tripled its forest area and become a worldwide example of successful forest management. This report looks at what Norway has achieved and sets out practical measures Tanzania could take to improve forest conservation. It is fair to say that Latvian forestry and the achievements of our forest scientists can likewise serve as an example to a great many countries around the world. That is why those who frequently and unjustifiably criticise our forest management or nature conservation in forests, and mislead the public, need to be told plainly: “Don't go looking for the Congo (or Tanzania, Cameroon, Gabon and so on) in Latvia!”
Norway's path to forest restoration
The historical account is drawn from publications in various Norwegian sources. They were produced to mark the anniversary of Norway's National Forest Inventory (NFI) and the people who carry it out, and the events held to celebrate it.
Reports of the over-exploitation of local forests in Norway date back to the 16th century – the time when the first laws regulating timber exports and the establishment of sawmills were passed. In addition to the widespread use of timber in construction, many regions needed large quantities of firewood for households and for dairy farming on upland farms. Grazing livestock near these farms further contributed to the degradation of local forests and even lowered the tree line in the mountains compared with today. Charcoal was widely used in Norway in earlier times. Back then it played an essential role as an energy source in industry, particularly in mining and in the processing of iron, copper and silver.
To secure forest regeneration, high-grading was introduced as a forest management practice, under which the felling of trees below a given diameter was strictly prohibited. Given the high demand for timber, the fastest-growing trees were often the first to be cut, which may over time have led to slower forest growth. The harvesting of high-value trees was still the dominant form of management when Barth (Barth, 1916) published a significant paper predicting a decline in Norway's forest area, calculating that the volume harvested was 29% greater than forest increment.
The idea of collecting national forest statistics began in 1737, when the first forest administration was established in Norway. However, the King of Denmark and Norway, who ruled mainly from Copenhagen, lacked the resolve to carry through such a forward-looking project. Population growth in the 19th century, the lifting of restrictions on sawmilling in the 1860s and a flourishing pulp industry increased demand for timber and led to shortages in the country. The growing use of forest resources generally took place without any understanding of whether harvesting was sustainable, although some efforts were made to assess increment and harvesting levels. These estimates were unreliable because of the uncertainties involved, and the forest administration frequently pointed to the need for more accurate forest statistics.
Although the history of local forest management inventories in Norway is still not precisely known, one example has been documented in the Åmot (Åmot) municipality. The inventory began in 1907, using 0.1 ha sample plots placed subjectively in representative stands. By 1909 the work had switched to strip sampling in order to complete the inventory of the northern part of the municipality. At the 1909 meeting of the Swedish Forestry Association on methods for gathering information about forest volume and increment across Sweden, those who had carried out the Åmot inventory shared their experience. Around this time Åmot was visited by Swedish representatives, who later, in 1911–1912, carried out the inventory of Värmland County as a pilot project for the whole of Sweden.
Norway's state forest inventory authority (SFI) was responsible for management inventories in the country's state forests, and from around 1914 it began using strip sampling. Nikolai Rygg, director of Statistics Norway, had long sought more reliable information about Norway's forest resources. After meeting SFI experts in 1915, where he learned about the Värmland inventory in Sweden and the SFI's experience in Norway, Rygg worked with the SFI experts to draw up a provisional plan for a national forest inventory in Norway. He submitted this plan to Prime Minister Gunnar Knudsen, whose favourable response led to funding being granted to prepare a detailed plan and budget for the NFI as a government institution, which was subsequently approved by a parliamentary decision on 13 June 1917.
The Norwegian forest inventory (NFI), established in 1919, is the oldest national forest inventory programme in the world. Norway began by mapping all of its forest resources in order to reverse the heavy deforestation that had taken place over the centuries. This comprehensive data collection was crucial for understanding the state of the forests and planning effective restoration measures.
Norway's success in restoring its forests can be explained by several key strategies. Every five years the NFI carried out detailed surveys, providing essential data on the condition of the forests. This information helped to guide forest restoration and management measures. The country maintained a balance between timber harvesting and forest increment, ensuring that forests regenerated naturally while still supporting the economy. Norway also carried out large-scale forest restoration, planting new trees and monitoring forest health closely to ensure continued forest growth. In addition, the integration of modern technology, including satellites and drones, improved its ability to monitor forest condition and manage resources efficiently. As a result of these strategies, the volume of timber in the forests has increased considerably – from 300 million cubic metres in 1920 to almost 1 billion cubic metres today. What can Tanzania learn from Norway's experience?
The current state of Tanzania's forests
Tanzania's forests and forest land cover approximately 38.8 million hectares, or around 40.4% of the country's land area. These forests play an essential role in conserving biodiversity, regulating water and storing carbon. Tanzania nevertheless faces considerable problems, including a high rate of deforestation, land degradation and insufficient data for forest management.
Each year the country loses around 469,000 hectares of forest, mainly to agricultural expansion, logging and charcoal production. Tanzania has a variety of forest types, including montane, lowland and mangrove forests, as well as extensive areas of miombo woodland, which are essential to the livelihoods of local people. Forests make a significant contribution to Tanzania's economy, supplying resources for industry, energy for households and income from non-timber forest products such as honey and medicinal plants. The pressure on these resources is heavy, however, and this is leading to unsustainable use and environmental degradation.
Practical recommendations for Tanzania to improve forest conservation
Tanzania would benefit from establishing a national forest inventory along the lines of Norway's. Regular monitoring and comprehensive data collection would provide essential information about the state of the forests, making it possible to take well-founded management decisions and carry out effective restoration measures. Priority should also be given to sustainable forest management practices, to ensure that timber harvesting does not exceed the forests' natural capacity to regenerate. Such an approach will help to maintain forest area while still supporting economic activity.
Active forest restoration is essential, and Tanzania should launch extensive tree-planting programmes focusing on both degraded and undegraded areas. For these efforts to succeed, it is important to involve local communities in them. Integrating modern technology, such as remote sensing and drones, will improve Tanzania's ability to monitor the condition of its forests, detect illegal activity and plan restoration measures effectively. Forest-related policy also needs to be strengthened and rigorously enforced. Addressing land tenure issues, providing incentives for sustainable management and enforcing existing legislation will be crucial to protecting and expanding Tanzania's forest area.