Understanding Spatial Flow of Building Poles’ Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Livelihoods and Forest Resources: The Case of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper examines the spatial flow of building poles in Zanzibar, Tanzania, its opportunities and challenges. The objective is to understand spatial flow of building poles’ effects on sustainable livelihoods and forest resources. It is a result of a study that took place in March 2013 in Urban West Region, Ukongoroni and Charawe shehias. The methods used included focus group discussions, a brief questionnaire, an in-depth interview and direct observations. Also Arc GIS version 10.2.2 was used to overlay GPS points of building poles’ depots over land use maps. The findings indicated that the availability of building poles contributed to theexpansion of the Urban West built up area from 8.3km2 in 1985 to 46.8km2 in 2009. It also led to income poverty alleviation among building polesdistributors. However, it led to the gradual disappearance of indigenousspecies as they were being replaced by exotic species such as Casuarinaequisetifolia, which were highly demanded in the construction industry inZanzibar. It is thus recommended that replanting or silvicultural workinvolving indigenous species should be encouraged for sustainableindigenous forests in Zanzibar.