Community-based monitoring of natural resource use and forest quality in montane forests and miombo woodlands of Tanzania
Date
2005Author
Topp-Jørgensen, E
Poulsen, MK
Lund, JF
Massao, JF
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A community-based monitoring system that focuses on natural resource use and forest
quality in montane evergreen forest and miombo woodland areas was developed and implemented
in 23 villages in 2002 as part of a participatory forest management regime in Iringa District,
Tanzania. The scheme was developed to suit the needs and capacities of locally-elected natural
resource committees managing and monitoring natural forests. Rather than measuring biodiversity,
the monitoring is focused on resource extraction and disturbance. High levels of commitment
to the monitoring were displayed by village level managers, and the preliminary feed-back indicates
that the monitoring scheme provides them with the relevant information needed to suggest
appropriate management interventions. While external support has been essential to cover development
costs, natural resource revenue generated at village level can provide most of the running
costs. Once developed, the scheme can, however, be transferred to similar areas at significantly
lower costs that can be met by Tanzanian District budgets. Natural resource revenue generated
from montane forests is generally much lower than in woodland areas due to restrictions on
resource extraction imposed as a consequence of national and international interests. Opportunities
to provide economic incentives for montane forest managers through direct utilisation of the
resource are limited and it remains to be seen whether other non-economic incentives can sustain
long term commitment in these biodiversity rich areas. Findings indicate that the key elements of
this local resource utilisation monitoring scheme are simplicity, incentive mechanisms, transparency
and accountability, and autonomy for local managers. However, the methods may not provide
sufficient data on changes in biodiversity values in the high value forests and may need to be
augmented by conventional monitoring by scientists funded by national or international institutions.
Elements of the scheme are now being institutionalised within the forestry sector in Tanzania
Citation
Topp-Jørgensen, E., Poulsen, M. K., Lund, J. F., & Massao, J. F. (2005). Community-based monitoring of natural resource use and forest quality in montane forests and miombo woodlands of Tanzania. Biodiversity & Conservation, 14(11), 2653-2677.Publisher
University of Nairobi, Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies
Subject
Community-basedForest management
Locally-based monitoring
Miombo woodland
Montane forest
Natural resource management
Participatory monitoring
Tanzania