Forest products and rural income in Tanzania from a methodological perspective in estimation

Forest resources in this context embody closed canopy forests, woodlands, savannas, bushes, thickets, farm trees and shrubs and plantation forestry. These resources playa role in Tanzania's economic development by providing woodfuel, structural timber, poles and non-wood products such as fodder, fruits, nuts, herbal medicines and wild foods. Woodfuel consumption constitutes 97% of all wood products and 91% of the total national energy consumption while the rural subsistence consumption is about 98%. The forest sector also contributes to food security by maintaining a stable environment necessary for agriculture and livestock production systems. Furthermore, large parts of rural and urban areas depend on water supplies originating from catchment forests. So is the generation of hydro-electric power. Reliable statistics on forestry including its contribution to national development are scarce and few. This marginalizes the importance of the sector in national development. The main problem faced is how to quantify some of the forest products in monetary terms. Since very limited research has been conducted in this areal this paper looks into the issue of forestry-based rural incomes from a methodological perspective in estimation. Future research in this area is recommended to illustrate and justify the importance of rural forestry in Tanzania.