Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
about overstocking and degradation may be misplaced (Homewood and
Rodgers, 1987; Stocking, 1996). While it is not suggested that degrada-
tion never occurs (Homewood, 1995) more emphasis is placed on rainfall
dynamics and the ef ects of restricting access to rangelands through aliena-
tion for national parks and the expansion of agriculture into traditional
pasture lands. The emphasis in this discourse is on equity and the rights
of indigenous populations (Lovett et al., 2001). This discourse challenges
the pastoral paradigm in which local communities are seen as incapable of
managing resources and Western people are viewed as knowing best what
needs to be done to make better the lives and environments of communi-
ties in developing countries (Leach and Mearns, 1996; Stott and Sullivan,
2000). Instead, indigenous knowledge is recognized and local communities
are seen as vital for the sustainable management of resources. In this dis-
course the emphasis is on community participation and community-based
initiatives for wildlife and natural resource management.
Nevertheless the 'people versus environment' policy discourse has
historically dominated natural resource management in Tanzania.
Approximately 25 per cent of Tanzania has been gazetted as national
parks, game reserves or forest reserves (IUCN, 1987) with semi-arid
regions being particularly af ected. This has been accompanied by con-
cerns with overpopulation and overgrazing in areas still used by pastoral
and agro-pastoral communities. A prime example is the HADO (Hifadhi
Ardhi Dodoma - soil conservation in Dodoma) project in Kondoa, which
was set up in 1973 in response to the perceived overstocking of rangelands
in the area and resultant soil erosion (Lovett et al., 2001; Quinn et al.,
2007). The HADO project instigated complete de-stocking of the range-
lands accompanied by improved agriculture and tree planting (Wenner,
1983) and later the introduction of zero-grazing where small livestock
are kept and fed on crop residues (Kerario, 1996). Although the HADO
project has been considered a success in improving vegetation cover there
is the suggestion that soil erosion in the area was the result of deforesta-
tion rather than population increase (Mung'ong'o, 1991). Ultimately the
HADO project could only be instigated through direct government
intervention and control and even then grazing of livestock still occurs
(personal observation).
More recent interventions have considered community participation
in natural resource management but there is concern that these only pay
lip service to local community knowledge (Leach and Mearns, 1996) and
criticism can be found of community-based conservation projects else-
where that have failed to protect wildlife or fully integrate local institu-
tions (Campbell et al., 2001). It seems unlikely that there is the political
will to open up national parks to pastoralism and governments still do
