Title
Forest dependency and its implications for protected areas management: A case study from the Nyungwe Forest Reserve, Rwanda
Author(s)
Masozera M.K., Alavalapati J.R.R.
Published
2004
Publisher
Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, Supplement
Abstract
Conservation of biodiversity in protected forest areas will be more challenging if local communities are heavily dependent on them for energy, nutritional, medicinal and other subsistence needs. This study estimated forest dependency and identified factors influencing dependency for households living around the Nyungwe Forest Reserve (NFR), Rwanda. Data from a household survey conducted in 2001 were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Results suggest that agricultural income, household age and size, and access to towns and outside markets are the key determinants of forest dependency. Based on these results and discussions with various stakeholders in the study area, it was concluded that protected areas management must be consistent with overall socioeconomic development plans. Towards this end, pine plantations in the NFR buffer zone could be replaced with an agroforestry system producing tea, as a potential solution to ensure biodiversity and address subsistence needs of local communities.
Keywords
Agriculture; Biodiversity; Economic and social effects; Nutrition; Regression analysis; Local communities; Protected areas management; Forestry; Agriculture; Biodiversity; Economic Analysis; Forestry; Nutrition; Regression Analysis; Sociology

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