Assessing the economic significance of forest income in community livelihoods in Manyoni District, Tanzania

Abstract

Forest resources are essential to the fundamental requirements and economic well-being of rural inhabitants in Tanzania's Manyoni District. Non-timber forest products are critical in sustaining these livelihoods. However, there is a lack of understanding of how these resources sustain livelihoods in the Manyoni District, where natural, cultural and economic elements uniquely affect social and economic processes. This study investigates households' socioeconomic features, forest dependency, and how forest revenue affects their livelihoods in Nkonko and Sasilo wards. The study uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate the socioeconomic aspects impacting the dependency on forest resources by combining quantitative data from household surveys with qualitative insights from focus group discussions. The findings show a considerable reliance on forest resources for income, especially when it comes to the usage of charcoal and firewood, and they also point to essential variables that influence the advantages of these resources, such as family size, gender and education level, as well as proximity to forests. The study concludes that community-based management practices and legislative acts conserve forest resources and enhance the lives of affected communities, fostering environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.