Assessment of the Extent to which Productive Sector Policies Mainstream Sustainable Land Management Principles

This paper provides an assessment of the extent to which productive sector policies mainstream sustainable land management (SLM) principles and suggests how mainstreaming of these principles could be strengthened and be more effective in Kilimanjaro region. Primary data was collected using qualitative methods including in-depth interviews with key informants and focus group discussions. Key informants included government officials, SLM project staff, NGOs and representatives of communities. Secondary data was gathered from review of relevant literature including government policies, strategies, project documents and other research materials. The data collected were analysed using content analysis and synthesised to determine the extent to which the productive sector policies mainstream sustainable land management principles. Findings indicate that several relevant NRM sectors have mainstreamed SLM principles, namely improved land productivity, improved livelihood and improved ecosystems. The degree to which these policies have mainstreamed SLM principles vary from adequately, moderately, and slightly. Despite the reported degree of mainstreaming the SLM principles in sector polices several challenges undermine the process, including land scarcity, land tenure, inadequate enforcement of policies, land use conflicts, human and financial resources constraints, and climate change. Various stakeholders are involved in SLM initiatives, ranging from local communities to international organisations. The diversity of stakeholders requires well coordinated efforts so as to maximise synergies and complementarities between the various actors. Also more effort has to be done at policy level to ensure that all sector policies adequately address sustainability in natural resources management to ensure that land productivity, livelihoods and ecosystems are improved.

Assessment of National Natural Resources Policies Implementation in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

The Kilimanjaro landscape provides a range of ecosystem services such as water, local climate modification, tourism and support of local livelihoods. Land degradation has, however, seriously threatened the landscape ability in providing these services, leading to decreased land productivity This paper is based on a study conducted in Kilimanjaro region to provide an understanding of how effectively natural resources-related policies are implemented by land users, and how they practically guide sustainable land management. Data collection involved interviews with purposively selected progressive farmers using a structured questionnaire, in-depth interviews with key informants, mainly district officials, NGOs and CBOs representatives and focus group discussions, as well as review of relevant literature. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data were triangulated using content analysis. Findings indicated that there are several policies related to natural resource management that are both cross-cutting and cross-sectoral in nature. While majority of respondents were aware of the various policies, male respondents were more aware than females, influenced by customary male dominance in natural resource issues. The policies are implemented at various levels, taking different forms and involve various stakeholders, including individuals, groups, NGOs, CBOs and public institutions. Generally, communities are actively participating in SLM activities though influenced by several pull and push factors in policy implementation in the area. The paper argues that for effective implementation of the natural resources policies there is a need to review and harmonise the sectoral policies with changing internal and external conditions such as economic transformation, globalization and climate change.