Abstract:
The study investigated the role of traditional institutions in the conservation of the East
Usambara forests in Tanzania. It revealed that there had been institutional changes in
management of forests, which had a negative impact on forest conservation. However,
the presence of traditional institutions, which included among others traditional healers,
traditional leaders, traditional taboos, sacred species and sites, had active roles in
conserving the forest. More than 90% of the respondents had retained indigenous tree
species on their farms and around households, with an average of six trees per household.
This strategy is influenced by socio-economic factors whereby respondent age had a
significant positive influence on the number of trees retained by a household. The study
concludes by pointing out that traditional institutions have active roles in conserving the
forests, and recommends that various strategies must be combined, including the use of
traditional institutions, in Conservation of forests. Studying tradition institutions will give
us knowledge on how they operate and how they can be combined with other strategies
in government, NGOs and even the private sector in conservation of the forests. Socio-
economic factors must be taken into account in the management of natural resources.
