Implications of wildlife management areas in biodiversity conservation and community livelihoods: A case of Mbomipa wildlife management area in Iringa, Tanzania

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE OF SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE. MOROGORO, TANZANIA.This study was conducted to assess the role of MBOMIPA, Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in biodiversity conservation and its contribution to local communities’ livelihoods in surrounding villages. The study was conducted between November 2014 and January 2015 in Iringa District, in four villages of Tungamalenga, Mapogoro (in Idodi Division), Itunundu and Kinyika (in Pawaga Division). Data were collected through questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The analysis of the data was done by quantitative and qualitative approaches. In qualitative analysis data were transcribed, manually sorted and analysed through content analysis while in quantitative analysis data were processed and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0.Results showed that there was significant difference on responses towards community awareness on biodiversity and WMA activities and their contribution to biodiversity conservation(Chi square; p