The Impact of Population Growth on Managing Forest Resources in West Usamabara, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper assessed the impact of rapid population growth on forest resourcemanagement in West Usambara, Tanzania. It determined the trend of population growth in Tanzania over the past thirty years, socio-economicfactors affecting forest resource uses and evaluated intervention measures onforest resources management. Surveyss were conducted in four wards Mayo,Baga, Mgwashi and Bumbuli and assessed the impact of rapid growth ofpopulation on forest resource management. The study revealed that thepopulation of the study area has almost doubled from 246,049 in 1978 to492,441 in 2012 with population density of 120.4 persons per square Kilometerwhich is above the national population density of 51 persons per squareKilometer. Furthermore, 84% of the respondents collected fire wood from theforest while 96% revealed to depend in forest for different forest products likefire wood, vegetables, fruits and medicine. About 96% revealed to practicePFM which is underperformed due to different challenges mentioned. Thestudy concluded that population growth contributed highly to the forestdestruction. Finally, it is recommended that awareness rising on familyplanning should be promoted, land use plan developed and ParticipatoryForest Management actively established with equal benefit sharing among theactors. Likewise, the policy and regulations should be reviewed to favour forestadjacent community ' s needs.Key words: Population growth, Forest management, forest resources.