Contribution Of Joint Forest Management On Livelihoods: A Case Of Kilombero District

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted in Kilombero district in Morogoro region. The main objective of this study was to assess the contribution of joint forest management on livelihoods. The methods used in this study involved questionnaire; focus group discussion and observation to acquire relevant information. The statistical package for social science (SPSS) was used to analyze data which were then summarized into frequencies and percentages and presented in tables for more open understanding of the study. The results of the study indicated that joint forest management has contributed to increased household income, increased asserts, forest ecological services, feeling of empowerment and capacity building. The results from this study revealed that little consideration of local communities in decision making, low education among local communities, poor information sharing among local communities and corruption practices among village and district leaders were the weaknesses that affect implementation of joint forest management at Nyanganje catchment forest reserve. The study revealed that illegal harvest of forest products, low education among local communities, lack of awareness among local communities, little involvement of local communities in joint forest management activities, corruption practices among village leaders and lack of fund were identified as the challenges that face the implementation of joint forest management. Finally the study suggested that several strategies can be used to reduce deforestation at Nyanganje catchment forest reserve, the strategies include provision of environmental education to local communities, involvement of local communities in forest management activities, regular patrol around forest reserve, law enforcement and establishment of income generating activities to local communities adjacent to forest reserve. Recommendations based on the research affirm the necessity to establish alternative income generating activities, provision of education to people and encourage involvement of local communities in joint forest management in order to increase income so as to improve the livelihoods of local people and improve forest quality.