Assessing the Sustainability of Kilongo Forest Reserve under Community-Based Management in Wangingómbe District, Njombe Region, Tanzania

Over the past three decades, community forest management regimes, which involve collaborative decision-making for forest resource management, have been the dominant form of forest management in the global south. Among other things, this management regime has been associated with improving both forest conditions and community livelihoods. Recent studies, however, indicate that forests under community-based forest management (CBFM) are decreasing, subjecting them to degradation and complete land use change. This study, therefore, assesses the sustainability of Kilongo Forest Reserve under CBFM in Wangingómbe District, Njombe Region, Tanzania. Data was collected from 90 heads of Kilongo Sub-Village households in the study village of Masaulwa using probability and non-probability approaches through structured interviews, in-depth interviews, and documentary reviews. The results showed that Kilongo Forest Reserve conditions improved noticeably over the 20-year period under CBFM through increased forest density, tree height, and undergrowth diversity. This was due to the existence of rules and regulations, as well as villagers' involvement in forest management. However, with the exception of the increased harvests of honey, the results demonstrate that the improved forest conditions did not significantly improve the livelihoods of the villagers. This is because the trees were not mature enough to produce timber. On the other hand, the forest reserve faced the challenge of animals passing through or grazing within the forest, as well as illegal harvesting of forest resources. It was also noted that the presence of numerous actors, multiple power centres, a village environmental management committee (VEMC) that was neither accountable to the villagers nor under their control, and the unequal distribution of benefits all compromised the effectiveness of Kilongo Forest Reserve. This study concludes that Kilongo Forest Reserve management under CBFM is not sustainable. Thus, to ensure the sustainability of Kilongo Forest Reserve under CBFM, there should be a complete decentralisation in the governance of the forest reserve, and the villagers should reduce their reliance on wood for energy by enabling them to use alternative sources of energy.