The role of local knowledge and organizations in sustainable conservation of biodiversity: a case study of Udzungwa mountains, Tanzania
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Date
2000
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
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.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Biodiversity Conservation, Udzungwa Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains National Park