Grassland loss in Tanzania: causes, consequences and control
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Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST)
Abstract
Grasslands are an important component of rangelands. The work
presented in this paper is based on spatial statistical analysis of
grassland change between 1995 and 2010 using land use and
land cover maps covering the whole of mainland Tanzania and
GIS techniques. Further arguments for discussion in the paper
are sourced from literature review. Results show that grasslands
are lost at an alarming rate of almost 1 million hectares annually.
Between 1995 and 2010 Tanzania lost more than 14 million
hectares of grassland. Main direct causes of grassland loss are
conversion to cultivation and to forest cover, almost at an equal
rate of more than 6 million hectares over the 15year period
(about 400,000 ha annually). Bush encroachment is also an
important direct driver of grassland loss. Indirect causes of
grassland loss include population growth, economic growth,
challenges in grassland governance and management and
globalization. Consequences of grassland loss include reduced
areas for grazing, increased soil erosion, floods, increased land
use conflicts and their repercussions including loss of property
and life. Control measures include those addressing the direct
and indirect drivers of change. However, most of the control
measures are ineffective and hence the observed trend of
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grassland loss is increasing with time. The paper concludes by
suggesting some topics for further research into ways to improve
the effectiveness of the control measures against grassland loss in
terms of potential and possibility of more agricultural
intensification, improvements of markets and profits to
cultivators, nature of grassland loss to forest cover, ways to apply
existing extensive research on bush encroachment and, the role of
formal and informal institutions that control grassland loss.
Description
Healthy Rangelands for Sustainable Natural Resource Productivity
Keywords
cultivation, bush encroachment, population growth, management challenges, land use conflicts, soil eroding floods.