| Student: | W.M. Tarimo |
|---|---|
| Timeline: | March 2023 - 1 March 2027 |
This research investigates how pastoralists and non-pastoralists can coexist with regard to land use for improved livelihoods. Countries in Sub Sahara Africa such as Ghana, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Chad, Nigeria and Tanzania have experienced land use conflicts between pastoralists and non-pastoralists for decades. These conflicts occur as pastoralists exercise mobility and flexible strategies while grazing their livestock and interact with non-pastoralists like farmers and foresters who are essentially sedentary land users. Since there is interaction between pastoral and non-pastoral land uses, conflicts-to-coexistence continuum defines whether the interaction is negative or positive.
A number of studies have investigated the causes, impacts and ways to reduce the land use conflicts. However, in finding solutions for the conflicts, the studies have focused on addressing the causes of the conflicts and how to manage/resolve them. Some regional and country level policies and protocols to support pastoralism are also among the initiatives to address the causes yet the conflicts persist. The novelty of this study is to explore from the coexistence end of the continuum rather than the conflicts end.
The main goal of this research is to collate and adapt the land use coexistence principles which would enable coexistence of pastoral land use with non-pastoral land uses. Land tenure, land use and institutional arrangements will be incorporated in the context of an implementation framework. Through the analysis of land tenure, land use and institutional arrangements information for both pastoralists and non-pastoralists, a framework will be developed using Soft systems method (SSM).
In order to achieve the main goal, four specific objectives will be addressed. (1) assessing the trends of land tenure and land use land cover change and their implications on coexistence of pastoral and non-pastoral land uses; (2) establishing the compatibility level between pastoral land use and non-pastoral land uses; (3) assessing the institutional arrangements in both pastoralists and non-pastoralists for implementation of the land use coexistence principles; and (4) co-developing an implementation framework to guide the administration and management of land use coexistence between pastoralists and non-pastoralists based on the land use coexistence principles.
The study is envisioned that the adapted land use coexistence principles and the developed framework based on the principles will contribute to a new knowledge on how to address and reduce the pastoral and non-pastoral land use related conflicts. In Tanzania, this study aims to help authorities and communities in building a solution on how communities with competing land uses can coexist especially in Mvomero district.
Meet the team
