POTENTIAL OF VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKETS FOR IMPROVED CARBON STOCK IN COMMUNITY BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT OF MIOMBO WOODLANDS, TANZANIA

Community based forest management reduce deforestation and forest degradation in many developing countries including Tanzania. However, the success is threatened by limited alternative economic activities to support local livelihoods. The emerging global voluntary carbon markets aim to deliver multiple benefits including biodiversity; carbon offset and poverty reduction. Despite of its pronounced success, community based forest management of miombo woodlands has not been well explored in light of growing global voluntary carbon markets. The markets can be harnessed to provide alternative income for local livelihoods. This study investigated four community based forests verse vies three proximity open access forests in Southern Highlands, Tanzania. It was found that carbon stock ranges from 66.51tCO2/ha to 168.27tCO2/ha at a mean of 131.60tCO2/ha (SD 74.21) in community based forest managed sites. The proximate open access forests have 18.11tCO2/ha to 92.01tCO2/ha with a mean of 36.38tCO2/ha (SD 9.14). The rate of carbon stock improvement also ranged from 27.69tCO2/ha/yr to 126.38tCO2/ha/yr based on management effectiveness and forest condition. The improvement provide potential net income of 6,233.18$/yr to 327,027.75$/yr if sold at lowest price of 5$/tCO2e. Given the limited economic opportunity available in miombo woodlands, just 50% of this net income could be useful to promote alternative livelihood activities to local community.