Livelihood impacts of participatory forest management in Maharaka village land forest reserve, Mvomero District, Tanzania

This study examines the livelihood impacts of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) on communities surrounding the Maharaka VLFR. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, the study focuses on the influence of PFM on natural and financial capital among forest-adjacent communities. Data were collected from 60 respondents residing in two sub-villages located at different distances from the forest reserve. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining Individual surveys, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews. In addition, six focus group discussions and six key informant interviews were conducted to complement the quantitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences while qualitative information was analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicate that a majority of respondents perceived that PFM has positively contributed to their livelihoods, while a considerable proportion reported no noticeable improvements. These results suggest that although PFM has generated livelihood benefits for some community members, the outcomes are not uniformly distributed across households. The variation in perceptions among respondents reflects the differentiated nature of livelihood outcomes associated with PFM implementation. The study also revealed a slight increase in wage labour opportunities related to forest-based activities since the introduction of PFM. Although the improvement was modest, it indicates that forest governance initiatives can create employment opportunities through activities such as forest patrols, tree planting, beekeeping, and other conservation-related tasks. Overall, the findings highlight the uneven livelihood impacts of PFM and underscore the need for more inclusive benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure broader community participation and equitable distribution of benefits.