A Detailed Study on Social Economic situation and potential Alternative Income Generating Activities (AIGAs) of Communities Around Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forests

The study was conducted in September 2011 in 8 villages locations surrounding Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves (PKFRs). This study was undertaken by the Department of Accounting of the University of Dar es Salaam Business School (UDBS) the official partner of HIMADA in delivering output five on socio-economic aspect and identification of potential alternative income generating activities (AIGAs). The aim of this study was to identify those alternative incomes so as to facilitate development of business plans and establishing business for local communities. Furthermore the study aimed at generating knowledge on the general understanding of local community on REDD issues and carbon trading. The study presents a combined approach whereby both qualitative (interviews and observations) and quantitative (questionnaire) data are used to present the socio-economic status and potential AIGAs. 

Some of the findings of the study
General understanding of REDD and Carbon issues:

Another aspect of socio-economic profile of the area surrounding the forest was the issue concerned with their general understanding on REDD and carbon issues Another aspect of socio-economic profile of the area surrounding the forest was the issue concerned with their general understanding on REDD and carbon issues. The findings reveal that the general understanding of the community on carbon selling is very low. Out of 546 respondents, 371 (about 67.9%) said that they do not understand, 133 (about 24.4%) have low understanding while only 36 (about 2.9%) considered themselves to understand some issues relating to REDD. The remaining 26 (or 4.8%) were not sure or did not respond to the question. On the REDD initiatives, only 56 equivalent to 10.3%, 472 respondents (about 86.4) do not have knowledge on REDD initiatives and the remaining 18 (or 3.3%) did not respond to the question.

Furthermore on the REDD issues, the study was interested to understand which measures have to be taken to ensure that implementation of the REDD is a successful one. The results indicate that majority of the respondents (57.7%) considered that better protection of the existing forests and community involvements in the forest management (56.6%) are the important measures. Also other measures which also were considered to be important were use and promotion of efficient alternative energy source (37.5%) and facilitating villages to establish nurseries, tending and planting trees (31.5%). These measures can be summarised in three issues. First, the community considers that for REDD to succeed there is a need to involve the community around the forest reserves. Second, there is a need for the government to develop mechanisms to protect existing forests. And third, there is also a need to come up with efficient alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on the existing forest. 

General understanding of the REDD issues

		Number	%
General understanding of carbon selling	Do not understand	371	67.9
	Low understanding	133	24.4
	Not so sure	6	1.1
	Understand	36	2.9
	No response	20	3.7
General understanding of REDD initiatives	General REDD issues:
	Yes	56	10.3
	No	472	86.4
	No response	18	3.3
Willingness to participate in REDD initiatives	Yes	430	78.8
	No	63	11.5
	No Response	53	9.7
Factors for participation in REDD	Price mechanism	349	63.9
	Sustainability of the payment	395	72.3
	Waiting period before payment start	61	11.2
	What happens after payment period	24	4.4
	Permission to harvest after the period	44	8.1
	Quantification of the carbon content	17	3.1
	Government protection	33	6.0
	Others	16	2.9
Measures that can help your area to achieve REDD implementation	Facilitate villages to establish nurseries, tending and planting trees	172	31.5
	Better protection of existing forests	315	57.7
	Use and promotion of efficient alternative energy source	205	37.5
	Community involvement in forest management	309	56.6
	Efficient nitrogen fertilizers and agronomics practices	33	6.0
	Encouraging growing crops that are resistant to adverse weather condition	41	7.5
	Promotion of sustainable production system in agriculture	5	9.0

Table: Showing Potential AIGAs in the study Areas

AIGA Type	Area for application	Risks on the forest	Risk Mitigation measures
Agriculture (more than 75% depend on it)
1. Vegetables production (Mchicha, Matembele, Majani ya Kunde, Redfinger, spinach, tomatoes, etc)	Kisarawe:	If proper land use plan is not properly enforced there is a danger of encroaching the forest land. There are possible use of chemicals which if not properly guided can lead to environmental disaster	Land use plan must be clearly presented and proper management plan should be in place. ·         Extension officers should be in place to guide the farmers on the proper use of different inputs
It was oberved that if a household could grow these fruits, average income per household per season is Tshs 400,000	Maguruwe:- There is river Mzinga which could provide water for irrigation. There is water catchment
	Umatumbini area:- There is water catchment. However, there is a big problem of infrastructure
	Ilala:
	Nzasa:- There are two factors to make vegetables more potential: first is the availability of market due to location and  good infrastructure; and second factor water catchment because the area is too close to the forest reserve	·         The use of pesticides and fertilizers could be harmful to the environment and the downstream users	Extension officer should in place to guide the farmers
	Kitunda:- Water from River Mzinga could provide water irrigation. It was observed that majority of farmers are using water from river Mzinga for irrigation. The observation was consistent with the study conducted by Ngana et al (2010) titled Kizinga-Catchment Management Strategy which found that 66% of farmers were using irrigation	Farming should be done in the river bank. A clear boundary should be set for farmers to follow. Also should allow the water to continue following in the river system	Same as above
	Chanika:- Location and good infrastructure provide good market. Soil quality and water can provide a better environment for vegetable production
2. Fruits production (passion, water melon, pineapples, sugarcane, bananas, cucumber, mangoes, oranges)	For passions and pineapples can be grown almost in all areas in the two districts. However, for greater impact in income generation, Kisarawe is better situated because there are large areas for farming compared to Ilala.
	Other fruits can be grown in areas where the is possibility of getting adequate water
	Mangoes and oranges have greater potentiality in Kisarawe district
3. Crops (cassava, cashewnuts, sweet potatoes, sesame,	All these crops can be grown in kisarawe District because it is more rural. The justification here is availability of land.
4. Tree Nursery Development	Greater potential in Ilala than in Kisarawe because of the level of urbanization
5. Fish Farming	Kisarawe: Here the space is adequate and the community can harvest rain to create fish ponds
Livestock:
1. Poultry	Kisarawe:
	Kisarawe village availability of market
	Ilala
	Chanika its potential to sell the poultry produces
2. Goat keeping	Can be done in Kisarawe
Beekeeping (this also can provide avenues for beehives business)	In both district Ilala and Kisarawe because the beekeeping is going to be done in the forest reserves	This can help protect the forest. Guidance should be provided especially during the harvest. Fire harvest should be avoided	Extension officers should be in place
Eco-tourism and its related businesses	Both Ilala and Kisarawe, but the centre could be put in Kisarawe
1. Sculputure
2. Batik
3. Baskets
4. Mikeka/Carpets
Business establishment
1. Retail shops
2. Guest houses
3. Restaurant/Pubs
4. Tailoring
5. Artworks
6. Masonry
7. Mama Ntilie/Lishe
8. Garage operations

Tree Nurseries Established in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves

Above, those are the tree nurseries established in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves. Seen in the picture are natively called Mkongo among tree species planted in tree nurseries both in Maguruwe and Nyeburu waiting to be transplanted in the forests during the rain seasons. The 1^st Picture shows the tree nurseries in Nyeburu, 2^nd Picture portrays gardeners in front of tree nurseries in Nyeburu and the 3^rd and 4^th Pictures are the clearly seen Mkongo seedlings, in Maguruwe. This is one of the good work done by WCST in HIMADA Project.

Methodologies Adopted by Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) during Carbon Assessment and MRV Related Activities in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forests

Some of methodologies adopted by Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) FORCONSULT during Carbon assessment and MRV related activities in Piloting REDD project in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves.

• Integrating communities to participate in establishment of permanent plot for carbon monitoring and marking the trees measured for future re-measurements to determine additionality and carbon sequestration measurement. See the 1st and 2nd picture above.
  The participation of local people in the field assessment is expected to have built some knowledge on carbon assessment among the local people. Further the awareness on the value of the forests in relation to climate change and benefits beyond timber and charcoal are starting to build up among local communities

• Establishment of permanent plot for carbon monitoring (Marked and GPS) The plot size 0.08 ha (20m x 40m) sub divided into 8 subplots measuring 10m x 10m. See the 3rd and 4th pictures above.
  

Sensitization Meeting on HIMADA Project at Pugu Ward, Ilala District

1^st picture above shows one of the sensitizing meetings on HIMADA project with the communities adjacent to Pugu and kazimzumbwi forest reserves and the 2^nd one down, shows flip chats that portrays subjects delivered during the meeting  which was held at Pugu ward that compile 6 mitaa of Kichangani, Bombani, Kinyamwezi, Kigogo fresh, Stesheni and Banguro.  The meeting was facilitated by EMNet in HIMADA Project and funded by The Royal Norwegian Embassy of Tanzania.

Environmental Journalist's Training on REDD and its Related Concepts

Trainer from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) give explanations on REDD concepts on the 1^st picture and the 2^nd one, are trainees (environmental journalists) from various media institutions take notes during the environmental journalist's training on REDD and its related concepts which held at Grand Villa hotel in Dar es Salaam. The training was facilitated by EMNet in Piloting REDD project in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves (HIMADA Project) which funded by The Royal Norwegian Embassy of Tanzania.

Products of HIMADA Project in the Conservation of Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves

The first picture above shows one among the buildings in the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forests that will facilitate security services in the forest and the second one is the sign post that were installed nearly to every pathways that enter and get out of the forests. It's a product of a nice work by WCST in the strengthening of forest boundaries.

Piloting REDD project in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves: The Strongest Initiative Needs a Great Support

Worldwide, deforestation accounts for 18-20 % of carbon emissions. Forests are the largest terrestrial source of carbon emissions after coal and oil. At the same time forests play an important role in climate mitigation as reservoirs of carbon and can help societies to adapt through maintenance of essential ecological services. According to the Tanzania REDD Imitative News letter (Aug 2009), Tropical forests are estimated to remove about 4.8 billion tones of CO₂ of which 1.2 billion tones are from African forests

Piloting REDD project in Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves focused on improving forest condition with corresponding reduction in CO₂ emissions in the Reserves and increased carbon stock. Its main goal is to ensure Pugu Kazimzumbwi Forest Ecosystem is properly managed, supports surrounding community livelihood and provides ecosystem services. The project is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy of Tanzania and is implemented under partnership of WCST, FBD, EMNet, LEAT, SUA and UDBS whereby WCST is the host organization with main authority to coordinate the project and all partners.

The project started effectively in May 2011 to implement its activities which includes transplanting of tree seedlings round forests boundaries, establishment of tree nurseries that will be used in forest restoration, as well as research studies on information and knowledge management; income generating activities and regulations to communities adjacent to the PKFRs.

However, the project faces some challenges from the few individuals with anger of being evicted out from the forest area and others who needs to benefit individually from the forest through cutting trees in the forests. These came after some of forest securities offices built in the forest by the project being destroyed; its doors and windows were uprooted and stolen.

Thoroughly looking on the project aim, it is a strongest initiative towards conservation of PKFRs. Not only to the communities adjacent to PKFRs who will be benefited, but also to Dar es Salaam region that expands everyday and covered with Co2 in a great quantity due to its industries and human activities congestions. If the project will produce its output efficiently that will conserve PKFRs, it will benefit the communities with carbon credits earnings that will be used in development activities of the respective area. Likewise to Dar es Salaam which will be supplied with clean Oxygen in exchange of Co2.

In doing that, the conservation of PKFRs is not only by this project, and not only to the government (FBD) or to communities adjacent the forests. But it needs collective efforts from various institutions and individuals who are friends and supporters of the PKFRs, together in a joint effort can combat different forests shortcomings like fire and deforestation problems towards conservation of the forests. Please just be the one; just be a good friend and good supporter to PKFRs to improve the ecosystem and community livelihood.

Author: Hagulwa Msusu

Email:  bhagulwa@gmail.com

Mobile:            +255 715 477587