Socio-economic and cultural factors influencing gender roles in joint forest management around mount Meru catchment forest reserve, Tanzania

The contribution of women and men in Joint Forest Management (JFM) is highly needed for effective forest management and its consequent boost of economic levels in villages surrounding Mt. Meru Catchment FR, Arumeru district. This study assessed gender roles and determined the extent of participation of men and women in JFM activities around Mt. Meru Catchtchment FR. The study also intended to identify socio-economic and cultural factors influencing gender roles in JFM in Ilkiding’a and Poli wards. Data collection involved primary and secondary data collection. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS. Qualitative information collected from key informants was subjected to content and structural analysis whereas qualitative data from PRA were analysed in the field with the help of communities. Land ownership, household income and number of people available for farm work have been identified through logistic regression analysis as socio-economic factors that significantly influence gender roles in JFM around Mt. Meru Catchment FR. Land ownership has significant influence on male participation in JFM. This implies that males, who are traditional land owners in the study area, are more likely to participate in JFM since land ownership acts as an incentive in participation. Conversely people who have no ownership rights to land are less likely to invest time and other resources in JFM participation. Households with larger number of members are more likely to participate in JFM. Women participation in JFM is positively and significantly influenced by household income in the study area. Women, who are generally poorer than their men counterparts, get motivated when they earn extra income coming from sources other than their normal source i.e. cultivation. Household size means more family labour available in planting and other forest activities, holding other factors constant. This study has concluded that effective participation of both men and women in JFM projects design and implementation is important to secure sustainable management of forest resources.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism