Researches under this programme address the contribution of forest sector the development of the communities and in GDP at large. Research also link various policies to link the development of the communities. Forest extension also done to bring the research findings to the stakeholders.
Research Activities
The following research activities will be undertaken under this programme:
Policy Research
- Assess current revenue collection methods and identify gaps for improvement including simple ways for establishing forest revenue collection methods and conduct empirical work on policy options for developing markets for NTFPs;
- Undertake studies on the effect of various extra-sectoral policies such as agriculture, mining and energy, taxation, subsidies, trade policies and privatization; and international conventions and agreements on the management and Utilisation of forest resources;
- Undertaking studies on global and national REDD+ and climate change policies in order map opportunities, challenges and enabling architecture and processes;
- Assess the effect of different policy options for addressing issues such as the effect of conventional policy options such as taxes, subsidies, tariffs and regulations; and international transfers to governments to protect forest; and
- Conduct studies to identify and assess critical variables in end-user sectors that are significant in estimating consumption of forest products, and the supply responses of different types of production systems.
Socio-economic Research
- Undertake socio-economic impact of human activities on forest resources and the interaction of forests, including off-farm trees, and the surrounding communities;
- Analyze factors leading to encroachment and degradation of indigenous forests;
- Analyze climate change impacts on forests and livelihoods and propose requisite mitigation measures;
- Estimate socio-economic value of variations in carbon sequestration potential of various forests;
- Study effectiveness of PFM and cost benefit analysis in forest management and estimate opportunity costs for different land uses in relation to REDD+;
- Investigate factors contributing to failure to meet fuelwood, pole and construction timber demand, continuous land degradation, and mismanagement of soil and water resources;
- Investigate modes of land and tree tenure, and the effect of alternative property right regimes on incentives for joint forest management;
- Explore various portfolios for cost and benefit sharing under PFM;
- Assess and update the contribution of the forest sector to food security, GDP, local economy and employment in Tanzania;
- Assess the magnitude of environmental benefits;
- Determine tangible and intangible values of forest resources; and
- Investigate potential and modalities of payment for environmental services (PES) including carbon trade opportunities at national and community levels.
Extension Research
- Conduct a study on the institutional and organizational set up of forest extension;
- Study levels of awareness, attitudes, and participation of local communities in various forestry programmes and projects e.g. AF, PFM, and impact of such constituent projects to local communities’ livelihood;
- Undertake studies on inventory and adoption and diffusion of existing forestry technologies, such as domestication of food and medicinal trees, plant protection etc;
- Carry out a survey of existing indigenous forestry technical knowledge under different land� use systems; and
- Evaluate the various forestry extension approaches and determine its levels of awareness and adoption attitudes.