Comparative assessment of challenges and opportunities of redd+ implementation at household and community level The Case of Kilosa District

The current debate on climate change, with respect to the role of REDD-plus and the recognition of participatory forest management as a climate change mitigation option represents opportunities for forest communities to receive benefits from carbon sequestration activities. The study focused on the globally emerging REDD+ programme as a way of tackling climate change, as it looked at challenges and opportunities through a case study of Chabima, Kigunga, Dodoma-Isanga and Masugu-Juu villages of Kilosa District in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. This study met the set objectives through an extensive review of literature and the practical research using interviews and other participatory rural appraisal methods (observation, etc).A total of 160 villages were studied. Findings of this study demonstrate a strong commitment by the villages to manage forests through REDD+ project. Current benefits enjoyed by the community from REDD+ pilot project are firewood, wild vegetables, and other NTFPs, environmental services such as clean air, water etc. Other benefits include social benefits such trainings, energy saving stoves e.t.c. However, the only financial benefits from the project currently are REDD+ carbon funds i.e. 10,000Tsh per household member. It was also reported by 55% the respondents that the project will not be sustainable. This is partly because the project operates in villages whose villagers are poor, 85% of respondents reported to depend on forests for various needs. It is recommended that REDD+ project should provide best alternatives to activities that lead to deforestation and raise their income. These can be short term loans and technical business assistance together with other co-benefits like ecosystem goods and services.