Socio-economic, cultural and livelihood factors influencing local people participation in Water resource management in the uluguru Mountains Eastern Tanzania
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Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
The social and economic circumstances
prevailing in Tanzania today have made
particular demands on water resource base and
the environment and its sustainability is
threatened by human induced activities. This
study assessed the socio-economic, sociocultural
and livelihood factors that influence
community participation in restoration and
management of water resource in the Uluguru
Mountains Eastern Tanzania. Land ownership
patterns and cultivation of seasonal crops were
among the major factors that influence water
resources as they entail more frequent soil
disturbance, inadequate ground cover and
increased risks of soil erosion and watershed
degradation. Free range and semi – zero
grazing system along stream banks is a
potential problem in watershed management
especially with increasing human and
livestock population. Water resource
management in the Ulugurus is mediated by
both formal and informal institutions the
strongest informal institutions being cultural.
Majority of the population has had an
opportunity to participate in watershed
protection and conservation and tree planting
was the major practice adopted. Increased
capacity for conservation skills was the most
important driver of community participation in
conservation activities. The major livelihoods
with regard to water use are various types of
domestic use and irrigated agriculture
especially during the dry season. Training and
education opportunities to local communities
can be powerful incentive to protection and
management of water resources. Clear policies
on water use and priority activities in the
Uluguru catchments are important in order to
avoid conflicts between water users.
Key words: Water resources-wateshedlivelihoods-
participatory-managementconflicts-
riparian-ecosystems
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Water resources, livelihoods, wateshed, participatory, management conflict, riparian ecosystem