Forest resource and changes in Households’ livelihoods in Handeni District, Tanzania

In many forested rural areas of Tanzania and also in many parts of the world the forest resource has been an important livelihood option used by the people living around it. Due to lack of other economic activity options, the forest resource has been the main activity subsidizing peasantry agriculture. It has supplied people people with domestic fuel, building materials, additional food supply, medicine, and more importantly, a source of income. The study aimed at examining the role of forest resources in changing the livelihoods of households in Handeni district. The study involved 117 households residing around the Kofi forest in Handeni district, Tanga region. Both primary and secondary data were obtained from various sources which included socio-economic characteristics, rural livelihood strategies, forest degradation and forest management strategies. Methods used in data collection were focus Group discussion, structured questionnaire, semi structured interviews and observations. The study used both qualitative and quantitative tools in analyzing data these included computer applications such as Ms Excel Statistical packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the GIS package. The study has found that the people of Handeni district have benefited from the utilization of the forest resource which has changed the lives of households in the area. Changes in the status of the Kofi forest. Lastly the study has established that there are weaknesses in the management of Kofi forest which necessitates urgent and timely management intervention.