Assessment of conflicts between local communities and management of Pugu Kazimzumbwi nature forest reserve in Kisarawe district, Tanzania

Conflicts between communities and forest authorities remain a challenge in protected areas, undermining both biodiversity conservation and community livelihoods. Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve (KFR) has long been characterized by conflicts with adjacent communities, particularly, Chanika and Nzasa villages. Although conflicts between local communities and the management of KFR are common, the ways in which socio-demographic characteristics and conflict drivers shape these conflicts remain poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by examining how these factors influence conflict occurrence, providing insights for more effective forest management strategies. Socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed using chi-square tests while conflict drivers were examined using logistic regression. Findings indicate that conflicts are largely influenced by socio-demographic characteristics, particularly younger and middle-aged individuals, those with lower levels of formal education, farmers and self-employed individuals and larger household size. Other socio-demographic factors influencing conflicts included married group and distance of households with those living closer to the reserve, along with drivers such as contradiction of forest boundaries. These findings imply that both community characteristics and governance-related factors interact to shape the occurrence of conflicts in the reserve. The study recommends strengthening forest policies to enhance community participation in decision-making, alongside training on sustainable forest use and promotion of alternative livelihood options to reduce reliance on forest resources.