Rethinking Natural Resource Degradation In Semi-Arid Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Semi-Arid Tanzania Dr Schechambo and Dr Sosoveli Mr Danielson Kisanga Institute of Research Assessment University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania, Dar es Salaam 1999 1 Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Figures.................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Tables ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction....................................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Physical Characteristics.................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Characteristics of Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania........................................................................................... 6 2.2 Climate .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Topography ................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Land Use Systems ......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.5 Major Farming Systems in Tanzania ............................................................................................................ 9 2.5.1 Pastoralism........................................................................................................................................... 10 2.5.2 Agro-Pastoralism ................................................................................................................................. 10 2.5.3 Characteristics of Farming Systems in Tanzania................................................................................. 11 2.6 Land Resources ........................................................................................................................................... 13 2.7. Demography............................................................................................................................................... 14 3. Perceptions of Natural Resource Degradation ............................................................................................. 14 3.1 Methods and Theories in Understanding SWC Problems........................................................................... 14 3.2 Understanding the Problem and Its Essence ............................................................................................... 16 3.3 Perceptions of SWC Issues During the Colonial Time in Tanzania ........................................................... 17 3.4 SWC Perceptions After Independence........................................................................................................ 19 3.5 Local Perception of SWC Problems............................................................................................................ 20 3.6 Conclusion................................................................................................................................................... 22 4. Natural Resource Degradation and its Causes ............................................................................................. 23 4.1 Estimates of Resource Degradation ............................................................................................................ 23 4.2 Causes of Soil Degradation......................................................................................................................... 23 5. Soil and Water Conservation Strategies in Tanzania .................................................................................. 25 5.1 The practice of soil and water conservation................................................................................................ 25 5.2 Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation by Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania....................................... 26 5.3 Standard Solutions to Standard Problems: The Conventional Approach to SWC...................................... 26 5.4 Putting People First: Participatory Approaches to SWC............................................................................. 27 5.5 Characteristics of Indigenous SWC Techniques......................................................................................... 27 5.6 Research Projects Looking at SWC in Tanzania......................................................................................... 28 5.6.1 Tree-planting........................................................................................................................................ 28 5.6.2 Role of Livestock in SWC ..................................................................................................................... 28 5.6.3 Case Studies of SWC and Rehabilitation ............................................................................................. 29 6. Factors Influencing the Adoption of SWC.................................................................................................... 29 6.1 Participation: Condition for Successful SWC Strategies ............................................................................ 29 6.2 Population Densities.................................................................................................................................. 30 6.3 Investment and Access to Capital ............................................................................................................. 30 6.4 Returns to SWC Investment...................................................................................................................... 30 6.5 Markets and Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................ 30 6.6 Security and Tenure Rights....................................................................................................................... 31 6.7 Access to Information and Technology..................................................................................................... 31 6.8 Building on Tradition: Supporting Indigenous SWC................................................................................ 31 6.9 Some Attempts to Practice Afforestation in Tanzania .............................................................................. 31 7. Role of Institutions .......................................................................................................................................... 32 7.1 Change of Institutions Responsible for SWC.............................................................................................. 32 7.2 SWC Issues and the Planning Process ........................................................................................................ 33 7.3 Conclusion................................................................................................................................................... 36 2 8. Policies and their Socio-Economic Opportunities and Constraints: Incentives and Disincentives for Soil and Water Conservation in Tanzania ............................................................................................................... 37 8.1 Approaches and Policies on SWC............................................................................................................... 37 8.2 Need for Harmonisation of Policies with Conflicting Objectives............................................................... 38 Appendix 1 ........................................................................................................................................................... 40 Policies, and their socio-economic opportunities and constraints: incentives and disincentives to invest in SWC in Tanzania: An Annotated Bibliography................................................................................................ 40 References ............................................................................................................................................................ 51 Figures FIGURE 1: MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL MAP OF TANZANIA ..................................................................................... 7 FIGURE 2: SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN TANZANIA........................................................ 20 FIGURE 3: EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS SWC APPROACHES.................................................................................. 22 Tables TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF THE FARMING SYSTEMS IN TANZANIA ........................................................................... 10 3 List of Acronyms a.s.l. above sea level DoE Department of Environment DOVAP Dodoma Village and Afforestation Project FAO Food and Agriculture