Conflicting interests over natural resource use: the case of interactions among livestock keepers, farmers, and wildlife at Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
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Date
2025-11-14
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers in Sustainable Resource Management
Abstract
Conflicts over natural resources use among farmers, livestock keepers, and
wildlife are escalating in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, posing significant threats
to livelihoods, security, and sustainable development. This study investigated the
types, drivers and impacts of these conflicts using a mix-methods approach,
including questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, and focused group
discussions. Descriptive statistics and content analysis revealed 16 distinct
conflict types, with the most prevalent being crop raiding by livestock before
harvest (farmers-pastoralist conflict) and disputes over farm boundaries (farmer-
farmer conflict). Key drivers of conflicts varied between groups but commonly
included an increasing number of livestock, inadequate supervision of herders,
and seasonal flooding of grazing lands. The primary consequences identified
were reduced crop yields, social tension, and emotional distress. To mitigate
these conflicts, the study recommends enforcing adherence to village land use
plans, promoting coexistence through community education, providing training
in livestock management and good practice, and regulating livestock influx into
the area
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Kilombero Valley, farmer-pastoralist interactions, livestock management, land use planning, natural resource conflicts, sustainable resource use
Citation
10.3389/fsrma.2025.1650915