Non-Timber Forest Products benefits for community groups and conservation motivation in mountains of Tanzania

The linkage between forest resources and the livelihood provision for local people is widely acknowledged. In West Usambara mountains, communities living around the forest fringes benefit with ecosystems services from the forest, albeit with different benefits flow between households. This study aimed to assess and compare benefits flow of community groups based on Non-Timber Forest Products in West Usambara and the motivation of community groups on forest management. Based on income, poverty and management motivation indicators, the study identified the variation of NTFPs income flow between genders and age groups, as well as the influence of NTFPs on poverty dynamics of genders and age groups. The location in terms of institutional regime, trust, training frequency and livestock ownership have shown to influence forest management motivation. The findings give insight of nexus between genders and age groups on forest utilization and management based on variation of participatory regimes offering clarity on possible interventions to ensure equitable benefits flow and better forest management.