Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Vol. 4(3), pp. 030-036, March 2015 ISSN 2327-3151 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Linking forest management and community livelihoods: The case of Pare and Usambara mountains ecosystems

Pius Zebhe Yanda

Centre for Climate Change Studies, University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail: pyanda@gmail.com.

Accepted 18 March, 2015

Abstract

This paper provides a critical review of the existing literature on livelihoods and forest ecosystem management for the Pare and Usambara Mountains. Disconnect in the scientific literature between community livelihoods and forest ecosystem management is what prompted this work. The paper was developed based on desk study by reviewing the existing literature of forest ecosystem management and community livelihoods focusing on Pare and Usambara Mountains. It is clear from the literature that forest ecosystems on the Pare and Usambara Mountains are undergoing various forms of degradation. Much of the destruction occurred in the period between 1975 and 1980s. Deforestation and forest degradation is associated with human activities as sources of livelihoods for the surrounding communities. Motivation being that communities have small plots for crop production due to land fragmentation and hence food produced cannot sustain their livelihoods. Community dependency between highland communities and lowland communities is among the livelihood strategies.   Pockets of forest remnants left in the agricultural field seem to have high biodiversity richness (flora). However, these pockets do not have similar ecological integrity as an intact ecosystem. Degradation of the forests will also compromise ecosystems’ goods and services accrued to the downstream communities of which the highland communities also depend on for their livelihoods. Integrated and landscape approach is the best way to sustainably manage the forests.

Key words: Forest, deforestation, community livelihoods.