Abstract:
This paper presents communities expectations on access and benefit sharing in seven selected REDD pilot projects in Tanzania. The pilot projects are being implemented by African Wildlife Foundation, Tanzania Traditional Energy and Environmental Organization, Mpingo Conservation and Development Initiative, Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, Jane Goodall Institute, Wildlife Conservation Society and Care International in Tanzania. Key informants interviews, focus group discussions and a questionnaire to 615 household heads in the selected household representatives in 14 REDD pilot villages were administered. Findings indicate that, majority (89.9%) of the community representatives have primary school as their highest level of education. 80.5% of the representatives’ main economic activity is agriculture. On REDD awareness, 68.9% of the community representatives are aware and 42.2% indicated to have received some incentives under the REDD pilot projects. Only 7% indicated to be satisfied with the benefit received from REDD pilot projects in the respective projects areas. On the forest related resources, 61% of the community representative reported to have lost access to fuel wood, charcoal making were 30.6%, and construction materials including poles and reeds were 7.8%. Communities ranked (i) poor access to REDD related benefits, (ii) few people being involved in REDD, (iii) poor governance, (iv) leakage, (v) land alienation,(vi) conflicts on benefit sharing and (vii) unacceptance of the projects by local communities as implementation challenges in REDD pilot projects in their respective villages. In implementing the REDD pilot projects, issues of benefit sharing mechanisms, equity, governance and leakage should be given priority for sustainability of such projects under carbon market.
