Abstract:
The Half Mile Forest Strip (HMFS) around Mt Kilimanjaro has for a long time been the
most important buffer zone to Mt Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The strip was set aside in 1941
with emphasis on production of wood and non wood forest products for local use. Rising
demands for these products from the forest called for socio-economic analysis and review
of the production options on the strip. The aerial survey done in year 2001 revealed that
the strip was not managed effectively to the extent of increasing the level of threats to the
forest belt. As the width of the strip cannot be increased, there is a need for maximum
utilization of the available land, by employing profitable production options. The overall
objective of the study was to analyze economic returns of various production options on
the strip. Specifically the study aimed at identifying the current forest land use options;
identifying and estimating costs and benefits of current production options and proposed
suitable options for production and conservation of the buffer strip. Primary data were
obtained through questionnaires conducted in four villages of the three districts. Land use
options were obtained through visual interpretation of satellite images and benefits of the
options were achieved by calculating Net Present Value (NPV) and Land Expectation
Value (LEV). Results from the study indicates that at a real discounting factor of 10.2%,
the actual NPV and LEV obtained from managing one hectare of land for beekeeping was
US$ 617.3 and 747.4 respectively. Growing and selling christmas trees gave NPV and LEV
of US$ 3741.8 and 4878.2 respectively while pine plantations provided NPV and LEV of
US$ 141.2 and 154.9 correspondingly. Sensitivity analyses revealed that all the three
options were economically efficient under a wide range of alternatives of varying inputs
and discount rates. Although the pine alternative had the lowest returns, but its associated
“taungya” farming (growing trees with agricultural crops) has shown to be very important
component in farmers’ additional income and food security, in this essence, this option is
profitable to both the district authority and the communities while natural vegetation along
rivers conserve the catchment value and used for beekeeping activity which does not
involve tree harvesting, thus maximizing production and conservation.
