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Village Community Banks aimed to reduce extreme poverty among community group
members and enable members share knowledge on how to generate income which could
be alternative sources of income rather than depending on illegal exploitation of forest
resources for the economic purpose. This study aimed at assessing economic contribution
of VICOBA in conserving forest resources. Multistage sampling technique was used to
obtain 5 villages adjacent to both Kazimzumbwi and Pugu Forest Reserves. In the
selected villages 23 VICOBA was selected by using Probability Proportional to Size
(PPS), 230 respondents form selected VICOBA was sampled and 15 key informants were
purposively selected. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and key informants
interviews. Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft
excel, in addition a binary logistic regression analysis was done to determine factors
influencing VICOBA member decisions in exploit forest products. Results show that,
VICOBA programme enable its members to engage in small business activities as
alternative sources of income at 55% which reduce illegal exploitation of forest resources,
also binary logistic model results reveal significant factors that were negatively influence
VICOBA members decision in forest products consumption at P < 0.05 are alternative
sources of income, national conservation laws, access to credit, educational level and
cultural believes, 44% of VICOBA members were aware in forest conservation through
conservation education provided and engaged in conservation through reporting illegal
activities and participating in environmental clubs. Finally, this study recommends
promotion of community microfinance groups in societies which could be source of
alternative income generating activities to reduce overdependence and overconsumption
of forest resources. |
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