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Socio-economic assessment of the factors influencing building poles consumption, conservation and management of the Amani nature forest reserve, in East Usambara, Tanga, Tanzania
Mbeyale, G.E|Monela, G.C / 2000


Abstract:

This study was conducted in 1998 at Amani Forest Nature Reserve (AFNR) in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanga, Tanzania. The main objective was to assess the impact of building poles consumption on biodiversity conservation of Amani Nature Reserve. Data were collected through questionnaire, focused discussions, interviews and literature survey. Analysis of data was through statistical methods and cost-benefit analysis. Results showed that the main compelling force towards high rates of building poles consumption around AFNR is unfavorable economic condition of the surrounding communities which have rendered building poles from the forest reserve, the only cheap building material available next door to rural communities. About 90% of surveyed households use poles and withers as the main building material. Selective extraction of preferred species has caused an obvious shift in the availability of such species and large diameter specimens as well as change in biodiversity composition. About 1405m3 per annum of wood are required for building poles and withers. Most of these are extracted from the Nature Reserve. Regression analysis results showed that factors which have significantly influenced building pole consumption are family size, occupation and the type of building materials used. Success of conservation activities depends on improvement of people’s economy. Also people should be motivated to plant non-fruit trees to create a building poles source outside the forest reserve. Presently only 30 percent of trees grown in the area are non-fruit trees. Introduction of cheap treated poles could also promote biodiversity conservation by increasing the service life of building poles hence reducing pole extraction pressure from AFNR.


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