The challenges and opportunities conservation initiatives may present on livelihoods to smallholders in Mgori Community Based Forest Reserve
Loading...
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Changes of conservation initiatives aim at balancing sustainability of forest resources and
rural livelihoods. Little is known on influence of conservation to livelihoods. This study
assessed people’s livelihood assets and the way conservation institutions modify access to the
assets, and its implications to poverty. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected.
Ninety seven households were randomly selected from three villages. Content analysis was
used to analyze qualitative data while SPSS computer software was used for quantitative data
analysis. There was reduced access to livelihood assets especially natural assets attributable
to conservation initiative. Respondents (60%) felt that they pay for conservation more than
they benefit from the conservation. Household income sources were: agriculture (54.1%),
environmental income (5.6%) and non-farm and off-farms contributed (40.3%). The total
household income increased with increase in agricultural crop sales (especially finger
millets) and the relationship was significant (P<0.01). Majority (75%) perceived that climate
change may impact smallholders’ livelihoods directly through a change in rainfall and
temperatures, but 90% observed that mitigation such as REDD initiatives may also lead to
serious challenges to smallholders due to restrictions on access to land. Restrictions
attributable to conservations (environmental income), increased income inequality. The
inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient increased significantly without environmental
income in Mughunga (0.1), Ngimu (0.01) and Pohama (0.01). Generally, without
environmental income, the overall Gini coefficient decreased to 0.08 units. Community’s
perception on increased conservation initiative e.g. towards REDD for poverty reduction was
negative. Under current conservation initiative the wildlife conflicts were reported high
(88%), among them 58% of the respondents attributed the extent of conflicts due to
conservation. Pressure on land around Mogori Community Based Forest Management
increased due to population growth and the demand for cultivating drought resistant crops
(e.g. finger millets). REDD introduction, should be handled in a broader context in order to
try avoiding adverse effects on smallholders’ access to resources and, hence, to their
livelihoods.
Description
Keywords
Status of the forest reserve, Mgori Village Land Reserve, The Sustainable Livelihood Framework, Environmental Income, Poverty and Rural Inequality and measurement