Contribution of community-based wildlife management to poverty reduction: the case of Mpimbwe and Inyonga divisions, Rukwa region, Tanzania

This study was conducted in Mpimbwe and Inyonga divisions in Rukwa region, Tanzania. It examined the contribution of community-based wildlife management (CBWM) to poverty reduction. Specifically the study intended to assess actors, benefit-sharing systems of CBWM, contribution of CBWM to local livelihoods and poverty reduction, the role of illegal use of Katavi National Park in poverty acceleration or deceleration and to identify strategies that would contribute to poverty reduction. Socio-economic data were collected through direct observation, questionnaire survey and interviews. The household survey involved 120 households. Assessment was done with reference to use of natural resources, accessibility and use of park products, livestock reared, crops grown and their contribution to livelihoods. Socio-economic data were analyzed using SPSS 12 program, content analytical tools and structural-functional analytical tools. Types of crops grown, amount consumed and cash obtained were analyzed using Microsoft excel 2007. Chi-square test at 5% level of significance was employed to test if there was significant change in utilization of resources by communities. The study revealed that CBWM actors had their roles that contributed to poverty reduction. Central government formulates rules and policies. Local government acts as a bridge between the central government, residents and non-governmental organizations. Mpimbwe WMA authority provided advice to residents on protection of wildlife resources while local communities acted as participants in environmental conservation programmes. Existence of CBWM activities around Mpimbwe WMA facilitated land use planning. CBWM practices contributed to decreased poaching and illegal harvesting of forest resources. It was revealed that the implemented poverty reduction strategies were effective through increased agricultural outputs. It is recommended that communities should be facilitated to access capital for developing more income-generating activities. Moreover, there is a need to monitor regularly and evaluate the performance of CBWM activities by scaling up to other areas.Association for the Development of Protected Area (ADAP