TITLE:
Understanding of Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Institutions on Sustainable Land Management in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Richard Y. M. Kangalawe, Christine Noe, Felician S. K. Tungaraza, Godwin Naimani, Martin Mlele
KEYWORDS:
Indigenous Institutions, Natural Resources Management (NRM), Sustainable Land Management (SLM), Traditional Knowledge, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.4 No.13,
December
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: The paper is based on a study whose objective is to provide an
understanding of the extent to which traditional knowledge and indigenous
institutions for natural resource governance remain relevant to solving current
land degradation issues and how they are integrated in formal policy process in
Kilimanjaro Region. Data collection for this study combined qualitative and
quantitative methods. A total of 221 individuals from households were
interviewed using a structured questionnaire; 41 in-depth interviews and 24
focus group discussions were held. Findings indicate that the community acknowledges
that there is traditional knowledge and indigenous institutions regarding
sustainable land management. However, awareness of the traditional knowledge
and practices varied between districts. Rural-based districts were found to be
more aware and therefore practiced more of traditional knowledge than urban
based districts. Variations in landscape features such as proneness to drought,
landslides and soil erosion have also attracted variable responses among the
communities regarding traditional knowledge and indigenous practices of
sustainable land management. In addition, men were found to have more keen
interest in conserving the land than women as well as involvement in other
traditional practices of sustainable land management. This is due to the fact
that, customarily, it is men who inherit and own land. This, among other
factors, could have limited the integration of traditional knowledge and indigenous
institutions in village by-laws and overall policy process. The paper concludes
by recommending that traditional knowledge and indigenous institutions for
sustainable land management should be promoted among the younger generations so
as to capture their interest, and ensure that successful practices are
effectively integrated into the national policies and strategies.