A Comparative Analysis of Collaborative Natural Resource Governance in Two Protected Areas in Zambia

In Zambia, early models of natural resource governance were based on state-centric approaches to conservation and later, to some degree, based on Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) models. Both of the models delivered poorly in terms of improved biodiversity management, enhanced rural livelihoods, and rights-based benefits. A lack of productive dialogue, involvement, and participation of local communities in natural resource governance resulted in considerable conflicts between protected area managers and local communities, with substantial local political and socio-economic costs. Through a mixed-methods approach using a questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, the Environmental Governance Systems (EGS) framework was applied to compare how interactions among political, economic, and civil society actors influence resource use and the state of resources in the state-led Kaingu chiefdom and the community-managed Kaindu Community Conservancy. Results show limited communication, cooperation, and coordination among the actors in both cases. Conflicting interests over the use of land, wildlife, forests, and fisheries among actors have led to strained relationships, limited interactions, and many negative outcomes in both cases. Both protected areas exhibit a top-down structure of natural resources governance with limited community participation, conflictual relationships among actors, corruption, lack of transparency, and low accountability. The CBNRM structures and processes need to be changed legislatively to improve local ownership and a sense of responsibility and legitimacy by restructuring the constitutions of CBNRM organizations and developing their human resource, financial, and logistical capacities. The study proposes a proactive transformative model for mitigating negative impacts on the state of resources and resource use

Vegetation structure and effects of human use of Dambos ecosystem in northern Mozambique

Original research articleThe Niassa National Reserve (NNR) is the most extensive conservation area in Mozambique and the third largest in Africa, encompassing 42,000 km2 of endemic miombo vegetation. Dambos wetlands occur within the wooded grassland and grassland vegetation of NNR and provide a wide range of Ecosystem Services (ES), including life support for animal species, regulation of water flow and prevention of soil erosion. It also generates income for the livelihoods of local communities by providing land for agriculture and harvesting of non-timber products. The dynamics of these ecosystems is poorly understood despite the contribution of the dambos to global biodiversity and ES. This research is the first preliminary assessment of the vegetation structure and composition of six dambos within NNR, selected using Google Earth, MODIS satellite images and an exploratory field visit. Field data collection was performed using a two-stage systematic sampling approach, along transect lines of 100 10m (0.1 ha), perpendicular to the dambos' flow. Square plots of 0.25m2 were established for grass survey within the transects where grass vegetation was measured, counted and identified. Data were analyzed with R software. The sociological position of each species was analyzed with regard to the vertical structure while for horizontal structure, the abundance, dominance, frequency and Importance Value Index (IVI) were determined. In order to understand the differences between dambos, evenness (H) and reciprocal of Simpson's heterogeneity index (Hill's N2) were calculated. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and Cluster Analysis were also used to characterize the surveyed species communities. A total of 58 transects (5.8 ha) and 336 subplots were assessed, recording 110 woody and 73 grass species, respectively. The most common tree species were Vitex doniana, Burkea africana, Syzygium cordatum and Annona senegalensis, while for grass vegetation the most abundant species were Andropogon eucomus and Helictotrichon turgidulum. According to the IVI, the most dominant tree and shrub species were V. doniana, Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia, A. senegalensis and S. cordatum. Homogeneity (Hill's N2 ¼18.92) and evenness (H¼ 4.27) were, on average, low in all dambos. Dambo 2 was the most heterogeneous (Hill's N2 ¼18.21) while dambo 1 was the least heterogeneous (Hill's N2 ¼ 5.71). Dambo 6 was most equitable (H¼ 1.35) whereas dambo 2 the least equitable (H¼ 3.72). Using species abundance and based on PCoA and cluster analysis, four main groups of dambos were identified based mainly on the water gradient, with data variation captured by the first three axes reaching almost 83%. The p-value (0.42), suggested no significant differences between species communities in the dambos, and thus, human disturbances appear not to be enough to modify dambos microenvironment. Accordingly, the results suggest that human activities, at this level, do not necessarily affect the structure and diversity of dambos in the NNR. The results also suggest that the species A. senegalensis, Combretum psidioides, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Protea nitida, P. maprouneifolia and S. cordatum can be used as indicator dambo species in NNR, with high likelihood of occurrenceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The fast track initiative : an assessment of the public-private partnership process on developing the fertilizer value chain in Tanzania

This Noragric Report was commissioned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to Noragric

Review and appraisal of Norwegian support to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) : review of the RAS 0351 programme (2003-2005) and appraisal of the “Education for Sustainable Development” programme proposal (2006-2009)

This Noragric Report was commissioned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to Noragri

To co-operate or not to co-operate? A study of Collaborative Management Planning in Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda

This paper addresses challenges of collaborative resource management around Mt. Elgon National Park in Uganda, investigated through household and community level surveys conducted in 2002. In an initial situation of strong conflicts, due to eviction, land deprivation and restriction in resource access through the conversion from a forest reserve to a national park, the paper analyses first of all how the processes behind establishing the participatory venture have been, to what extent people have felt activities as legitimate and inclusive using an implementation process perspective. This includes a discussion of to what extent the participation here can be seen as slow processes of social change involving participation as a goal in itself, and as part of efforts for a rights-based development. The paper also makes an analysis of the structure of the agreement in itself, and what pitfalls it may contain for the future implementation and establishment as conducive rules for a long enduring social institution. It is found that people do participate to some extent and that their perceptions towards the Park and Park Staff have improved after the introduction of Resource Use Agreements, which assigns rights and duties to people. The participation is still found to be very controlled and contingent, a rather functional and instrumental approach, with Uganda Wildlife Authority/ IUCN controlling both process and the structure and form of the agreements. Participation is clearly a means, not seen or meant as a right or as an aim in its own right. There are both formal and informal asymmetric power relations, where UWA at any time can withdraw from the agreement. The analysis also reveals a lack of understanding for local heterogeneity, where conflicts within and between local communities are not well addressed. Much of the conflicts are also left and partly actively transferred to the local RUCs, which neither have the resources, nor the mandate to handle these. It is recommended first of all to rearrange particular formal structures and processes constraining present management and delivery. One should also improve training for UWA staff on handling socio-cultural and local participation issues and secure rights of access better for marginal local people. One also suggests to introduce an external and independent arbitration function between UWA and to support network of RUCs to improve the existing asymmetric power relationships. One should form processes to negotiate and settle underlying, and far more serious issues of land tenure rights around the park

Step by step! Livelihoods, Social Institutions and Treadle Pump Adoption, Kasungu District, Malawi

Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world, and looks for ways to increase land productivity in agriculture. In a case study from Kasungu District, Malawi, this study investigates introduction of treadle pumps among poor small-scale farmers and effects of adoption on livelihoods and productivity. Farmers in the area report an average daily household income of USD 0.84/capita. The Gini coefficient is 0.61, implying a very skewed distribution. Agriculture is more or less the only source of income, apart from some environmental resources, not valued in monetary terms. Major constraints to improved livelihoods relate to lack of land, especially irrigated land, labour and lack of access to reasonable credit. 33% of rural households have adopted treadle pumps in the study area over the last 10 years, in groups (60%) or as single households (40%). Adopting households control more land and labour, they have higher education levels and more access to credit, they are younger, they have higher incomes, especially on-farm and they are more organized, and are generally better off. Treadle pumps will not solve the problems of food security and secure household livelihoods among rural poor dwellers in Malawi but may contribute 15-20 % of incomes to adopting households. Adoption also reveals a dynamic effect in that adopters increase land under cultivation. They cultivate 5 times more wetland irrigated -land than non-adopters. They also take more crops per year, report 4 times higher yields/ha and can secure production in the critical dry season and other distress periods, improving food security through this “safety net function” of the pump. Adoption is a process of gradual social change, where skeptical farmers have become convinced through trial and errors that the technology carries merit. A majority of farmers adopt in groups, partly due to relatively high investment costs, but also due to promotion by extension officers. The intervention delivers through an interface in ways compatible with farmers’ lifeworlds. Not without tensions, especially high costs and increased use of labour is a challenge, and there is general skepticism among non-adopters against new technology being alien to their present lifeworld and production system. It seems that using local institutions with their values, norms and social networks enhances adoption rates. The adoption is gradually internalised and becomes part of farmers’ repertoire, as they increasingly report to maintain and repair pumps themselves, crucial in a long term sustainability of the adoption and preventing disadoption. The pronounced group adoption reflects social cohesion in the area and that socio-economic constraints can be overcome through joint efforts. “Step by step” we see that rural households are able to improve livelihoods through this kind of innovation

Irrigation Management, Institutions and Local Livelihood Adaptation on Usangu Plains, Tanzania

This paper studies the evolution of irrigation water management in Usangu Plains and evaluates present irrigation schemes using Ostrom’s design principles for long-enduring common pool resources (CPR) and their influence on farmers’ livelihood. Three types of schemes were identified for comparative analysis. These types include traditional, improved and formally improved irrigation schemes. The results of a survey and participatory assessments using both qualitative and quantitative approaches reveal that household incomes are heavily agricultural based (90% income share) and largely determined by the availability of water, land and the access to other farm inputs. There are differences in farmers’ incomes in relation to schemes. We find that traditional scheme farmers are poorer. Improved management do depend on schemes’ ability to organise, the willingness to change, and how institutions are crafted in relation to their needs. Households in the schemes with high level of accordance with Ostrom’s design principles report better access to water and higher income security. Farmers’ perceptions of new and more formalised institutions are positive, but in practice, many still rely on traditional ways of organisation and interaction. We do not see that there is a consistent contradiction between formal and informal, embedded social institutions, but we think that institutional transformation is better described as an evolutionary process of change where they co-exist, partly as complimentary or overlapping entities but also partly in conflict over certain issues. Public policies and formal and informal institutional frameworks have evolved over time in rather un-coordinated and often contradicting manners. In future policy-making, more attention should be put on developing a more coherent institutional architecture where room is made for both formal organisation and institutions while still utilizing and emphasising local and informal existing social institutional attitudes, values and norms

Some piece of cake! Crafting Interdisciplinarity in Teaching Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture Experiences from the M.Sc. Programme in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture, NLH by

Agricultural University of Norway (NLH). Noragric’s activities include research, education and assignments, focusing particularly, but not exclusively, on developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Besides Noragric’s role as the international gateway for NLH, Noragric also acts on behalf of the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine (NVH) and of Norwegian Agricultural Research International (NARI), which form alliances with NLH. Noragric Working Papers present research outcome, reviews and literature studies. They are intended to serve as a medium for Noragric staff and guest researchers to receive comments and suggestions for improving research papers, and to circulate preliminary information and research reports that have not yet reached formal publication. The findings in this Working Paper do not necessarily reflect the views of Noragric. Extracts from this publication may only be reproduced after prior consultation with the author and on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation contact Noragric. Acknowledgements: This paper was written as part of a course in University Pedagogics a

Possible Norwegian engagement in decetralized forest and natural resource management in Uganda : fact finding mission

This Noragric Report was commissioned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to Noragric