Abstract:
ARKFor was among nine piloted REDD+ Project aimed at addressing the challenges of
climate change and poverty reduction. The initiative intended to reduce significantly
deforestation and forests degradation by enhancing alternative livelihood activities. The
activities aimed at contributing livelihoods improvement to rural forest dependent
communities. However, if the initiative is not well implemented would affect rural
livelihood. This study was carried out to assess the socio economic impacts of ARKFor
project adoption to livelihoods’ of rural communities. Data were collected through
household survey using questionnaire administered to 115 households selected randomly
from the REDD+ villages as well as focus group discussions and in-depth interviews
conducted using checklist. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis was also used in
analysis. Gologit model was also used to determine factors influencing level of adoption.
Five livelihood activities were introduced by the ARKFor Project, however only three
were adopted by the communities. Household income, ARKFor project support, marital
status, education and gender were significant (p< 0.05) and positively influencing
adoption, whereby land size and loan were significant and negative influencing adoption
at (p< 0.05). Moreover, more than half of household were food insecure and living in deep
poverty. Income per capita per day was USD 0.33 which is below poverty line. In general
contribution of intervention of REDD+ to rural livelihood was immaterial. Need for
appropriate innovation in equity and benefit sharing are recommended for effectively
participation in climate change mitigation.
