This study aimed at examining the perceptions of the local communities on
Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) in two villages in Njombe
District, Tanzania. This was important because CBFM is a bottom-up
strategy that involves local communities as owners or users of forest
resources. The study used face-to-face interviews, guided by a questionnaire,
observations and focus group discussion and documentary review. The
findings showed that 70 percent of the respondents complained that the
District Council was not supplying enough funds to carry out the CBFM
activities, including extension services, while 90 percent complained of the
shortage of extension services in forest management activities. Hence, it
recommends the need for empowering local communities to enable them
support their forest activities.