Abstract:
This study was aimed at examining the role of formal and informal institutions in
implementing REDD+ at local level in a REDD+ pilot project, Rungwe District,
Tanzania. The study was conducted in four villages adjacent to Rungwe forest
reserve, namely Ipuguso, Kandete, Kibisi and Ndala. Household questionnaire and
PRA techniques were used in data collection. Content analysis technique was used
for qualitative data while quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS software
version 16.0 whereby measures of central tendency such as mean, median and
standard deviation were computed. Logistic regression analysis model was
employed to assess socio-economic factors enabling or constraining performance of
both formal and informal institutions. The study revealed the existence of both
formal and informal institutions and their roles in the management of the forests.
Formal institutions were very acceptable, relatively accountable and based on
equity and fairness regarding management of forest resources however inefficiency
of formal institutions led to non-compliance. Informal institutions were fair, rather
acceptable and efficient but perceived to be unreliable and weak. Education level,
residence duration and income level of households enhanced the performance of
formal institutions underlying implementation of REDD+ at the local level while
age, sex of respondents, household size and marital status constrained the
performance of formal institutions. The results also showed that age, sex and
education level of respondents enhanced performance of informal institutions while
residence duration and household size constrained the performance of informal
institutions underlying the implementation of REDD+ at the local level. The study
conclude that both formal and informal institutions have active roles in conserving
forests and proved to be effective tools in implementing REDD+. It isiii
recommended that formal and informal institutions should supplement each other in
implementing REDD+ initiative at the local level.
