Dependency, Distribution and Diversification (3Ds) of livelihoods in the Miombo woodlands: learning from Tanzania. Issue 5 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ndenge, Tecla Charles; Perfect-Mrema, Joseph
• Is Part Of: International journal of sustainable development and world ecology. Volume 29:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 439
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Miombo woodlands -- livelihoods -- dependence -- distribution -- diversification; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Ecologie; Duurzame ontwikkeling; Ecology; Economic development -- Environmental aspects; Sustainable development; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 338.72
• DOI: 10.1080/13504509.2022.2032461
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-2627

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Miombo woodlands that cover around 93% of forested area in Tanzania are central to livelihoods of rural dwellers. Nevertheless, there is paucity of scientific studies and associated knowledge on the dependence, distribution, and diversification aspects of livelihoods in such ecosystems. Our empirical case-based findings indicate the dependence on Miombo woodlands was relatively high contributing 33.8% to total annual household income after tobacco cultivation at 39.6%. As such, forest incomes are vital for rural households living around such ecosystems. Among the poorest groups, forest income contributed to 40% of the total annual income whilst decreasing slightly as wealth increased reaching 32% among the better-off. On issues of livelihood distribution, forest incomes played a role in equalizing income distribution with a Gini change of about 0.05, however, it was tobacco cultivation that was more responsible for lowering the gap between income inequality levels with a Gini change of 0.08. In terms of diversification, rural households displayed a high level of diversity of livelihood options at a diversity index of 0.7 and forests were a diversification option. These findings contribute a policy lesson that reduced access to the miombo woodlands through exclusionary conservation mechanisms would result in considerable negative impacts on rural households' welfare and exacerbate income differentiation in the area.