Forest condition, threats and management effectiveness of rau catchment forest reserve, Moshi district, Tanzania
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Date
2015
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Forests and in particular catchment forests are important in providing economic and
environmental resources supporting natural systems and catering for the welfare of the
community. Poor management and unsustainable utilization to meet community needs for
forest products and other forest based ecosystem services can however compromise forest
conservation. This study was carried out to assess forest condition, threats and
management effectiveness of Rau catchment forest reserve in Moshi District, Tanzania.
The extent of disturbance was assessed through Threat Reduction Assessment Tool (TRA)
and the management effectiveness was assessed using the World Commission
Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool on Protected Areas. Socio-economic factors
influencing forest utilization were assessed through a questionnaire survey administered to
forest adjacent communities. The results showed that forest disturbance occurs in both
forest edge and forest interior, though at different levels. The disturbance and use intensity
through trees and poles cutting was significantly higher in the forest interior than the forest
edge statistically (p<0.05). This signifies that there is higher human impact in the interior
than the edge or periphery of the reserve. Plant species diversity using Shannon Winner
index was 2.998≈ 3 indicating that the reserve is above average in terms of plant richness
and diversity. The socio-economic factors influencing utilization in the reserve were
education and age whereby increasing age increases the likelihood of forest conservation
while education level on the other hand decreases the likelihood of conservation. The
Threat Reduction Index was 19% implying that the reserve is highly threatened. The major
threats were encroachment, illegal fire wood cutting, pole cutting, fodder and grazing. The
management effectiveness score was 29% which indicates poor management with
potential for deterioration of the ecosystem services provided by the forest. Among
shortfalls in the management of the forest are lack of management plan, unclear and unconsolidated boundaries for the forest, inadequate and unavailable funding,
unavailability and poor condition of working gears, weak law enforcement and poor
community involvement. Proper management plans, strengthening law enforcement,
consolidation of forest boundaries and community involvement in management are
important in ensuring sustainability of the forest reserve.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Forest condition, management, rau catchment, forest reserve, Moshi district, Tanzania