**2. Methodology**

#### **2.1 Data sources**

The research method used in this study was a systematic literature review. The PRISMA (Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) method was used to select the articles [10]. Scopus and Google Scholar were used to search for articles. **Table 1** shows the keywords used to search and retrieve published articles in the Scopus and Google Scholar databases.

A total of 437 records were retrieved after searching Scopus and Google Scholar for articles. To avoid bias in the search, we conducted hand searches by following prominent scholars in the field, resulting in the collection of 33 papers. The collected documents were loaded into Zotero (reference manager software). During the screening process, duplicate records were removed. Rayyan was then used to screen the article titles and abstracts (a web-based program). There were 334 papers screened for titles and abstracts, as well as records that did not include any of the search criteria in their title, abstract, or keywords, as well as research conducted outside of Tanzania and those deemed irreverent. As a result, 162 records were chosen for the subsequent stages. The eligibility phase entailed assessing a range of article attributes in order to choose the most relevant articles for further research. Records that were not concerning forest degradation did not have a PDF, or depended primarily on secondary data were excluded. Finally, an in-depth review of 71 papers was carried out. **Table 2** outlines the inclusion criteria that were considered.


#### **Table 1.**

*Keywords used in the Scopus and Google scholar database to search published articles.*


#### **Table 2.**

*Inclusion and exclusion criteria.*
