Chimanimani National Park and its Buffer Zone are home to more than 25,400 people (around 5,090 households), with a majority of these individuals located in the Buffer Zone.

The main livelihood activities of the communities in this region include agriculture, fishing, and trading. Of these three core activities, agriculture remains the primary economic activity. Most of the crops produced include maize, sesame, sorghum, and banana. These activities are allowed in the Buffer Zone as long as they do not interfere with the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of the ecosystem. Other activities permitted in the Buffer Zone include extracting wood for firewood and charcoal production, beekeeping, medicinal plants, wild fruits, and subsistence hunting.

While these may seem at odds with restoration, the mosaic landscape restoration approach makes space for livelihood activities within a broader forest mosaic.