Forest condition, threats and management effectiveness of rau catchment forest reserve, Moshi district, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Mkiramweni, Elimoo Nzinyangwa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-02-17T08:07:47Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-02-17T08:07:47Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2015 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.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. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7334 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Forest condition | |
| dc.subject | management | |
| dc.subject | rau catchment | |
| dc.subject | forest reserve | |
| dc.subject | Moshi district | |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | |
| dc.title | Forest condition, threats and management effectiveness of rau catchment forest reserve, Moshi district, Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |