REDD+ Projects and Community Livelihoods in Tanzania: A Case Study of Kondoa District

REDD+ projects have been considered as viable options in enhancing community livelihoods as well as conservation in Tanzania in terms of increased income form carbon sales and improved agriculture production. Kondoa District is one of the districts that implemented REDD+ project by the name advancing REDD+ project in Kolo Hill Forest reserves. Moreover, despite of the stated REDD+ project benefits, the shortcoming of REDD+ project have not been critically investigated. This study assesses the shortcomings of REDD+ projects in improving local community members’ livelihoods in two selected villages currently implementing REDD+ activities in Kondoa District. Household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews were employed as means of data collection. The findings of research have revealed that local communities in the studied villages have abandoned the activities that were established by REDD+ project in managing the forest reserve and livelihood improvement in the study area. This is mainly due to lack of incentives arising from forest governance and poor involvement of the villagers in the REDD+ project area, which has resulted in conflicts in forest management. The study concludes that for proper implementation of the REDD+ project activities, providing alternative sources of energy, capacity building on carbon assessment, carbon payments, improved agriculture techniques and establishment of economic activities to the community could support in improving community livelihoods.