Abstract
This paper presents results of the assessment of changes in provision of forest ecosystem goods and services in the Ugalla-Masito Ecosystem, using a case study of Ilagala and Karago villages in Kigoma Region, where REDD is being piloted. Various data collection methods were employed. These included focused group discussions, key informants’ interviews, in-depth interviews using structured questionnaires and document analysis. The results indicate that the demand for forestry products in the ward is quite high compared to the level which the surrounding forest can supply. This includes demand for fuelwood, timber and building poles. The ecological footprint accounting techniques revealed that people in Karago need five to six times their available village area per year for fuelwood production, while for Ilagala, the requirement is 8.5 to 9.7 times. This implies that these villages have a very high ecological deficit. Regarding possible compensation for the forgone ecosystem services, the present study reveals that each household in the villages may need to be paid Tshs 1,919,000 – Tshs 2,586,000 ($ 1279-$ 1,724) per year as compensation for foregone fuelwood. The study recommends that there is a high need for conservation schemes such as the REDD project to cooperate with village governments in the farm field tree planting campaign as well as encouraging the use of improved stoves so as to cut down costs of fuelwood access in the foreseeable future. Key words: Forest ecosystem goods and services, ecological footprint, benefit sharing.
Highlights
Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of goods and services from which people benefit, and upon which all life depends
Forest use in Karago and Ilagala villages before and during reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) project The results indicate that forestry products’ demand in villages is quite high compared to the level which the surrounding forest can supply
Ilagala and Karago villagers have been going short of supply of forest ecosystem goods and services since the REDD project was started
Summary
Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of goods and services from which people benefit, and upon which all life depends. Forests act as carbon sinks, resulting in an uptake of greenhouse gas - carbon dioxide (CO2) from atmosphere. By reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) through forests conservation, practices stabilize the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which, in turn, help avoiding global warming and increase forest goods and services (Angelsen and Wertz-Kanounnikoff, 2009). The government of Tanzania started by piloting REDD in various locations of the country. Academic institutions and private sector are currently implementing the projects
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