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This study on community participation in natural resources management was carried
out in Manyoni District. Specifically the study focused at community involvement in
natural forest management, the practice of participatory planning in the lower local
governments, and the factors that influence community participation in natural forest
management in the study area.
The study was a cross-sectional design. A total of 85 community members and 15
key respondents were selected for the study drawn using purposive and random
sampling techniques in the selected wards. Interviews, questionnaires, personal
observation, focus group discussions were used to collect primary data, whereas
documentary review was used to obtain secondary.
Data analyses used computer aided programs MS Excel and a Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) for quantitative data, whereas content analysis was used to
analyze qualitative data.
The study found that participation in natural forest management was low as it was
driven by the tobacco companies with only two small community groups involved in
natural forest management; there was a relationship between demographic
characteristics, economic activities, institutional set-ups, enforcement of rules and
regulations and participation of the community in natural forest management.
On the other hand, lack of incentives to the community members involved in natural
forest management, uncontrolled immigrants, limited training and information flow,
shortage of qualified staff, ineffective institutional frameworks were some of factors
that influence community participation in natural forest management.
This study recommends regular training to the local leaders at Village and Ward
levels, collaborative programs by the government, NGOs, FBOs to facilitate
participation in planning, monitoring and evaluation of natural forest management
activities as well as devolvement of forest extension services to the ward and village
level in order to enhance participatory natural forest management. |
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