Assessment of the Impact of Economic Factors on Deforestation: A Case of Bahi District, Tanzania

This study was undertaken to assess the Impact of economic activities on Deforestation in Bahi District. Specifically this study aimed at identification of economic activities for deforestation through examine challenges which hinder afforestation and the mitigation measures. Study employed a case study design, a sample size of 188 respondents covered three wards; Bahi, Lamaiti and Goima were selected to represent the whole population of Bahi district were purposively selected as they surround forest reserves. The Respondents were local communities, local government leaders and forest officials. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and analysis. SPSS and content analysis were used for data collection where information was summarized in frequencies, percentages, narratives and presented in the tables and figures. This study has revealed the Economic activities accelerates deforestation are charcoal production and firewood demand, rapid population growth, improper agriculture practice and unemployment. Challenges which hinder effective afforestation area; little community participation in afforestation activities, lack of enough education to the community on how to protect forest, lack of clear forest laws, possible mitigation measures are provision of enough education about environment, improve security & law enforcement, afforestation& reforestation and controlling of cutting down of tree. Suitable recommendations are Improve market for farming output, Provision of enough education about environment, provide alternative sources of energy cheap and affordable, Afforestation and reforestation, Integration of other stakeholder who are affected by forest exploitation such as water and Involvement of community from early stage in order to own the project of reforestatio