The role of local knowledge and organizations in sustainable conservation of biodiversity: a case study of Udzungwa mountains, Tanzania

Dissertation

To some extent the conservation of biodiversity in Tanzania is currently vested on local communities. This strategy is clearly stipulated in the National Forest Policy of 1998. The success of this strategy depends largely on people's local knowledge, organizations and their underlying institutions. Local knowledge and organizations constitute essential component for attempts to facilitate local level engagement in conservation and utilization of natural resources. However local knowledge and organizations were neglected in the past until recently when their importance have been stressed in rural development and conservation of natural resources in particular. This study was conducted to identify different local knowledge systems, organizations and their underlying institutions in the management and conservation of Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Specifically the study sought to: assess changes occurred in the forest resource base over time, identify and assess the role of the existing local organizations (both internally and externally sponsored) and their underlying institutions in biodiversity conservation and to assess the state of conflict between externally and internally initiated organizations. Other specific objectives include identification of indigenous practices and their role in the conservation of biodiversity in Udzungwa Mountains National Park, identification of socio-economic factors including gender, which enable or constrain local people participation in biodiversity conservation and propose a model that will ensure sustainable conservation of biodiversity for Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The study was carried under two phases. Phase one of the study involved Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques in two villages namely Msolwa and Sonjo. Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques were designed to quickly generate information about local conditions, livelihood and social formation around Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The second phase involved structured questionnaire surveys as the major tool for data collection. Questionnaire survey was done in four villages namely Msolwa, Sonjo, Ichonde and Kisawasawa. The sample size in each village was 5 percent of the total number of households. Other tools used were checklist and participant observation. Data collected by using Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques in phase one were analyzed with the help of the communities and the results were communicated back to them. The Statistical Package for Social Science was used to analyze quantitative data whereas Content and Structural-Functional Analysis were used for qualitative data. The study revealed the presence of various internally initiated organizations. These include village governments, village Community Conservation Committees, fire brigades, women groups, religious organizations, primary schools and cooperative unions. Ranking of these organizations by farmers indicated that village government, village Community Conservation Committee, fire brigades are more effective in decision making in joint management of natural resources in Udzungwa Mountains National Park. About 49 percent of respondents described the role of these organizations as being both tree planting and enforcement of rules and regulations. The study also identified two externally sponsored organizations, namely World Wildlife Fund and Tanzania National Parks. More than 85 percent of the respondents said that there is no conflict between externally and internally sponsored organizations. Similarly more than 75 percent of the respondents participate in tree planting and that both men and women participate^ equally in tree planting. Pollarding, pruning and the use of ash against termites are some of the indigenous management practices pointed out by most respondents. The presence of traditional institutions such as Bokela, traditional healing and sacred groves in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park is the evidence that the resource base has been protected and conserved by the local people even before the advent of externally sponsored institutions. The study concludes by saying that local people could work and provide the means for sustainable management and conservation of Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The study recommends strengthening the present agroforestry program through joint ownership of tree nurseries, formation of agroforestry demonstration plots and more emphasis should be put on education and extension. The study also recommends carrying out inventory and identification of traditional medicines to ascertain their distribution for effective conservation. Carrying out effective ecological monitoring and evaluation are other recommendations of the study.

Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD)