Institutional and natural resource use dynamics and their implications on sustainable watershed management in the East Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania.
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Institute of African Studies (AJAS)
Abstract
Mountain landscapes have been recognized worldwide for their
potential to support people’s livelihood and hence they have become areas of high population densities compared to surrounding plains
(Hamilton and King 1983). However, unsustainable utilization of
mountain ecosystems has led to environmental degradation (Templeton
and Scherr 1999). Mountainous regions of East Africa have been
facing severe degradation of forests, soils and water resources due to
unsustainable anthropogenic utilization (Mashalla 1988). The far
reaching effects include impediments to other beneficiaries to meet
their needs especially those whose supply depend on mountain
landscapes such as supply of safe and clean water, mountain forest
products and general balancing of the climate.
This phenomenon is common in the Uluguru Mountains. Although
these mountains are potential sources of water for downstream areas
of Tanzania including Dar es Salaam and Morogoro regions (Heijnen
1970), natural environment in these landscapes has been degraded.
Thick forests and woodland that covered the Uluguru Mountains before
the intensification of human activities have been degraded by
unsustainable anthropogenic utilization such as deforestation, setting
bushfires and poor agricultural practices (Rutatora et al. 1996). As a
result of these challenges various institutions (formal and governmental)
have evolved over time in attempt to govern livelihoods and ecological
strategies for mitigating and/or adapting people to cope with
undesirable consequences.
Description
Journal Article pp. 105 ~ 132
Keywords
Natural resource, Sustainable watershed management, East Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania