Forest Degradation in Tanzania: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Forest degradation is a process in which the biological diversity of a forest area is permanently reduced due to one or more factors. Forest degradation continues at an alarming rate, contributing significantly to the loss of biodiversity around the world. This chapter presents the findings of a systematic literature review of forest degradation in Tanzania. The PRISMA method was employed in the study’s search, document selection, and data analysis. There were more studies more recently due to the increasing interest in forest degradation as an important aspect of forest management. Most terms are mentioned less frequently in the document title than in the document as a whole, indicating research gaps for the research topics represented by the research terms. Some terms are covered less than expected, given their significance in forest degradation. The estimated annual volume removals exceed the estimated mean annual increment, indicating forest management in Tanzania is not sustainable. The most mentioned region was Dar es Salaam, while the list mentioned was Rukwa. It is expected that forest stakeholders will find the analysis presented in this study useful. Furthermore, the stakeholders will find interest in addressing temporal, spatial, and thematic research gaps highlighted in this chapter.