Does forest certification enhance livelihood conditions? Empirical evidence from forest management in Kilwa District, Tanzania

Published Date
January 2017, Vol.74:49–61, doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2016.11.001

Author 

Severin Kusonyola Kalonga ^a,,

Kassim Athumani Kulindwa ^b,

aDepartment of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Post Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway

bDepartment of Economics, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O Box 35045, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Received 17 July 2015. Revised 29 October 2016. Accepted 1 November 2016. Available online 11 November 2016.

Highlights

• We assess forest governance and income differences between FSC and non-FSC villages.
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  Household forest income from FSC is significantly higher than non-FSC households.
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  Forest bylaws implementation in FSC villages is more effective than non-FSC.
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  These imply that FSC is significantly related to forest governance and income.
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  FSC standards incorporation into forest policies may enhance forest management.

Abstract

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management certification standards have been promoted to contribute to community livelihood conditions. However, little has been done to evaluate it quantitatively. Employing theory of change, this study assesses and compares empirical evidence of the influence of the FSC forest management certification approach to enhance livelihood conditions in Kilwa, Tanzania, by using economic valuation methods and governance indicators. This is achieved through a comparative study of villages with certified community forests (FSC) under community based forest management and those without (non-FSC). Results show that annual average household forest income from FSC-certified forests is significantly higher than that of households in non-FSC-certified forests. With reference to rule compliance as an indicator of good governance, implementation of forest bylaws in villages managing FSC-certified forests is significantly more effective than villages in non-FSC-certified forests. These findings provide an insight into the influence of forest certification in enhancing livelihood conditions and that the incorporation of FSC standards into forest policies may lead to more enhancement of livelihood conditions. These findings serve as a baseline for further research on the effects of forest certification at both spatial and temporal scales.

Keywords

Forest resources

Household economy

Green economy

Forest governance

Mixed methods

Theory of change

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  Corresponding author.

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