The role of formal and informal institutions in land management in the Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Land degradation has remained a challenge in the Uluguru Mountains in spite of efforts by various actors to address the
problem. Cognizant of the role institutions can play in land management, the paper analysed formal and informal institu-
tions for land management with a focus on their role in governing land management in the Uluguru Mountains. Data were
collected through participatory rural appraisal, focus group discussions and structured interviews. Content analysis and
descriptive statistics were used to analyse the qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. The primary education system,
village environmental management committees and village extension system, as well as knowledge transfer from elders
to the younger generation, labour pooling (ubava), traditional dances and farmer groups’ networks enhance land manage-
ment. Blood sucking belief (umachinja) and a tendency to envy a person making good progress (katsopata) constrained
land management. Land tenure system, belief in supernatural powers and religious institutions played both enhancing and
constraining roles. The study affirms that institutions influence perceptions, preferences, behaviours and action. It contrasts
with the rational choice thinking, which sees behaviour as only following an individualistic rational calculus independent
of institutional setting. Through designed and spontaneous change, some institutions have become more relevant for land
management. It is crucial that land management interventions take into consideration the existing institutional landscape.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Institutions, Land management, Uluguru Mountains, Social construction