The Contribution Of Forest Products To Rural Livelihoods In Nkasi District, Rukwa, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in Nkasi District, Rukwa region, Tanzania, with the overall

objective of assessing the contribution of forest resources in improving the livelihoods of

rural communities. The focus was on various ways in which local communities in the

study area earn income through forest resources. Similarly, the study focused on the types

and quantities of the forest products and establishment of the contribution of the products

to household income. Primary data were collected from household survey in the study area

by using questionnaire, PRA techniques and check list for key informants. Data collected

during PRA were analysed with the help of local community. Content and structuralfunctional

analysis techniques were applied for qualitative data and information. The

quantitative data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)

programme. The secondary data were obtained from the District Natural Resources Office.

The results show that indigenous forests provide various types of forest products with

substantial contribution to the livelihoods of the household. The forest products comprise

about 21% of the total annual household cash income. Likewise, the study quantified the

annually utilized forest products per household to be around TAS 186 815. The study also

identified endangered plant species orchids which is widely traded and consumed by about

63% of the sampled households. The study shows that most of the forest resource users

utilize forest products that require licenses. It was further noted that most of the users do

not acquire licenses. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that

contemporary forest management approaches such as Community Based Forest

Management (CBFM) and Joint Forest Management (JFM) should be employed in order

to ensure sustainable use of forest resources.