Bukhi, Mathew2020-02-092020-02-092011Bukhi, M.(2011) Participation and benefit sharing under joint forest management the case of Nou Catchment Forest Reserve in Babati district. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam.http://41.86.178.5:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6974Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF SD414T34B84)This study examined participation and benefit sharing arrangement under Joint Forest Management (JFM) in Nou Cutchmcnt Forest Reserve. Specifically, socio- economic characteristics and their influences on participation were assessed. Forest utilisation practices, actors involved and benefits accrued from such practices were also scrutinised, Moreover, benefit sharing mechanisms present in that arrangement and resulting competing interests were investigated. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Questionnaire interviews represented quantitative approach while focus group discussion. key informant interviews. direct observation and documentary reviews represented a qualitative approach. A 10% sampling intensity was used to obtain 180 questionnaire respondents out of 1.810 households preset in the study villages; 12 key informants were purposively selected. The findings from Nou Catchment Forest show that participation in forest activities within Nou JFM is greatly influenced by socio-economic characteristics, as men seem to dominate women behind. Farmers and livestock keepers are actively participating in JFM due to Nou's contribution to their livelihoods. Findings have also revealed that 76.1% of respondents are allowed to harvest and utilise forest products including dry firewood, medicinal plants, water and tool taking tree species for subsistence and not commercial needs. Moreover, the study has revealed that a greater number of villagers i.e. 42.2% perceive the forest as beneficial in terms of its catchment values while 20.5% of the villagers perceive firewoods as another significant forest benefits. However, the costs in terms of foregone activities, crop damage and labour hours spent in doing forest protection activities that Nou adjacent communities encounter in their livelihoods were found to have outweighed those benefits. Moreover, benefit sharing mechanisms present in Nou Forest were found to be unsustainable and insufficient in covering the associated costs. That is why villagers perceive themselves as losers within Nou JFM. On the other hand, self- interests towards the forest and JFM scheme in general that exist amongst forest officers, villager leaders, VNRCs members and local politicians have been found to compete with interests of the majority. The study recommends for sustainable mechanisms to ensure that alternative income generating activities are fully implemented and supported to compensate the costs that Nou adjacent communities encounter and opportunity costs of foregone forest uses and access.enForest managementNou catchment forest reserveBabati districtTanzaniaThesis