Socio-Economic Root Causes of the Loss of Biodiversity in the Ruaha Catchment Area
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC ROOT CAUSES OF THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE RUAHA CATCHMENT AREA By H. Sosovele & J.J. Ngwale With contributions from C. Malima and D. Mvella Report submitted to WWF- Tanzania March 2002 i TABLE OF CONTENT Page Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………… .iv Acknowledgement………...…………………………………………………………. v 1. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objective of the Root Causes Analysis............................................................... 1 2.0 BASELINE CONDITION …………………………………………….2 2.1 Socio-Economic Characteristics of the RCA............................................................ 2 2.1.1 Population Changes ........................................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Economic Activities........................................................................................... 3 2.1.2.1 Agriculture .................................................................................................. 3 2.1.2.2 Livestock keeping ....................................................................................... 3 2.1.2.3 Mining......................................................................................................... 3 2.1.2.4 Timber/Logging .......................................................................................... 4 2.1.2.5 Plantations................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2.6 Tourism....................................................................................................... 6 2.1.2.7 Fishing......................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Environmental and Physical Features....................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Physical Features ............................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Vegetation.......................................................................................................... 9 2.2.3 Wildlife ............................................................................................................ 10 2.2.4 Forest Reserves ................................................................................................ 11 3.1. The Conceptual Model...................................................................................... 11 3.2 The Analytical Approach........................................................................................ 11 3.3. Data Collection and Sources............................................................................. 12 4.0 MAIN FINDINGS ...................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Local context........................................................................................................... 13 4.1.1 Population and Settlements.............................................................................. 13 4.1.2. Resource use and management ........................................................................... 15 4.1.2.1 Deforestation............................................................................................. 16 4.1.2.2 Protected Areas – Usangu Game Reserve ................................................ 16 4.1.2.3 Agriculture production and irrigation practices........................................ 19 4.1.2.4 Fishing....................................................................................................... 22 4.1.2.5 Fish Processing ......................................................................................... 24 4.1.2.6 Livestock Keeping in the RCA................................................................. 25 4.2 Implication of Resource Uses on the Flow of water in the GRR............................ 26 4.2.1 Declining rains and water levels...................................................................... 27 4.2.2 Livestock in the RCA: Too Many or Too Few? .............................................. 29 ii 4.2.3 Implications of Prolonged Dryness in the RCA .............................................. 29 4.3 Driving forces at the local level.............................................................................. 31 5.0 National Context ................................................................................................... 33 5.1 Policy Issues............................................................................................................ 33 5.1.1 Economic and Social Development Policies ............................................ 34 5.2 Inadequate Capacity to enforce Rules and Regulations.......................................... 36 5.3 Institutional Co-ordination...................................................................................... 38 5.4 Poverty .................................................................................................................... 38 5.4 Current Conservation Initiatives............................................................................. 39 6.0 International Context .................................................................................................. 40 6.1 Foreign Markets and International Trade Conditions............................................. 40 6.2 International Financial Institutions ......................................................................... 40 6.3 International NGOs and Aid Agencies ................................................................... 41 7.0 CONCLUSIONS................................................................................................... 42 8.0 Recommendations....................................................................................................... 43 9.0 LIST OF KEY ISSUE THAT NEED FURTHER ATTENTION. ....................... 45 10. INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES 46 11. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................. 47 12. APPENDIX 1: Conceptual Framework Explaining Loss of Biodiversity in the RCA/RN.............................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 13. APPENDIX 11: MATRIX OF ISSUES ......................Error! Bookmark not defined. List of Tables Table 1. Population density and distribution by regions in RCA ..................................... 13 Table 2. Volume of Fish Catch, Number of Vessels and Fishermen at Mtera Dam. ....... 23 List of Figures Figure 1. Drainage Pattern of the Ruaha Catchment Area.................................................. 8 Figure 2. Rainfall Trends from Mbarali Rain Station: 1980- 2000 .................................. 28 Figure 3. Trends in the Production of Tea from Brook Bond Tea Company, Mufindi District:1987 - 2001. Output in Kgs. ........................................................................ 40 List of Photos Photo I. A Sukuma Kraal in the Ihefu, Usangu Plains, see the amount of wood used..... 15 Photo II. Kibidula farm close to the Ihefu Swamp, the source of Little Ruaha in Mufindi District....................................................................................................................... 19 Photo 3. Brooke Bond Tea Estate overhead irrigation -Mufindi District........................ 20 Photo IV. Tail Enders search for domestic water ............................................................. 21 iii Photo V. Vinyungu Farming at Kalenga towards RNP .................................................... 21 Photo VI. Livestock Grazing in the Ihefu, Usangu Plain ................................................. 25 Photo VII. Hippo grazing in the dry riverbed at RNP ...................................................... 30 iv Acknowledgements The Great Ruaha River, the lifeline for the power, agriculture, and livestock keeping and fishing for a large population in the Rufiji Basin has dried several times within the last fifteen years. This dryness has had implications on the livelihood of the people, the economy and significant biodiversity in the Ruaha Catchment Area (RCA). Realizing the need to address this problem from comprehensive and holistic approach, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Tanzania Programme Office initiated a study to identify the Socio Economic Root Causes driving the loss of biodiversity in this area. The Root Cause Analysis is based on the assumption that the conservation of biological diversity needed to be premised on a clear understanding of the factors (driving forces and proximate causes) and dynamics that drive the loss of biodiversity. This approach has now become useful in providing further insight in what may be regarded as forces that lead to the loss of biodiversity by linking processes (policies, programmes, institutional and regulations) at the local, national and international levels. This study was about the understanding of the Socio-Economic Root Causes defining the loss of biodiversity in the Ruaha Catchment Area. In conducting this study too many individuals and institutions were involved. The authors wish to thank first and foremost WWF-TPO for funding and facilitating this study; in particular, the authors thank Dr. Herman Mwageni, the TPO – Representative for showing great interest and