REDD+ scheme in Tanzania: Identifying potential types of forest in Tanzania that provide cost effective in reducing greenhouse gas emission through REDD+ scheme

While deforestation and forest degradation contributes nearly 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, still forests are being argued as the potential and relatively cost effective options for climate change mitigations. However through REDD+ scheme, which provides financial incentives to the local communities, will enhance sustainable forest management, and improve forest carbon stocks as well as reducing the level of poverty to the local communities in developing countries.

Using Tanzania mainland as a case study and through literature review, the study identified which types of forest in which region of Tanzania are likely to provide cost effective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through REDD+ scheme. The study identified two types of forests namely miombo woodlands and mangrove forests. Miombo woodlands occupying about 96% of the total forest in the country whereby out of that 57% are follow in village and general lands under open access management regime, which is the main focus of REDD+ policy. Miombo woodlands have a thick and close canopy cover that provides a potential feature with regard to carbon stock capacity hence being key forest type in climate change mitigation through REDD+ scheme.

The second forest type identified is mangrove forest, which cover about 108,000 hectare that is about 0.3% proportional of total forests in Tanzania. Mangrove forests have the highest carbon rich and have the largest carbon storage capacity than other tropical forest. Despite that mangrove occupy a small area in the country, are most cost effective forests in climate change mitigation. Finally the study concluded that, because mangrove forests are full managed by the government through Joint forest Management program, it is supposed to be reviewed so that its ownership to be handled to the communities. This will help to match into the current REDD+ scheme policy and will help to improve its management status compared to the ongoing current of overexploitation and the conflict between the government and the communities.