Dissertation (MA Development Studies)This study on the impact of poverty on mangrove forest conservation was carried out in Chwaka bay, Zanzibar. The study involved four villages of Michamvi, Ukongoroni, Chwaka and Charawe. The study comprised of one hundred respondents. Stratified and simple random samplings were techniques were used to select one hundred respondents from total population of 5512 people from study area. The study used interviews, questionnaire and focus group discussion to collect data from respondents and data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that poverty contributes mangrove depletion in Chwaka bay and the main reason was poverty.Many youth in Chwaka bay were jobless and some engaged in informal activities which did not fulfill their basic needs. Therefore people cut down mangrove resources for livelihood. Local people in Chwaka bay cut mangrove resource for timber, firewood and building material. Some of mangrove material used by local people in Chwaka bay for domestic used but many mangrove materials transported in town for selling in order to earn living. Law and by- law were established to control mangrove depletion but less implemented because of corruption, brotherhood and poor security. These situations make mangrove resource to be overexploited and rapidly decreased however it was renewable resources. The study recommends that in order to solve the problem of mangrove depletion in Chwaka bay there should be focused and well-designed strategies to fight against poverty through development and expanding alternative economic activities such as fishing, trade, agriculture, tourism and bee keeping. Furthermore, increased security and environmental education would be reinforced to improve mangrove conservation in the study area.