CONFLICTS OVER LAND AND WATER RESOURCES IN THE KILOMBERO VALLEY FLOODPLAIN, TANZANIA

Abstract

The Kilombero Valley fl oodplain (KVFP) inhabits a very large natural wetland of which over 70% is protected. Diverse mammals, amphibians, fi sh and bird species populate the area. Importantly, KVFP harbours 75% of the world Puku antelope population. Most human activities in the area include large and small scale farming, pastoralism and fi shing. Recently, population pressure, overgrazing and aligned human activities have pressed strain on the land and water resources in the KVFP. The situation prompted the government of Tanzania to resettle some of the pastoral families so as to achieve sustainable natural resources management. The paper provides an insight of this resettlement exercise as a multi- layered land use confl ict and its effects to the land resources and people's livelihoods. Focused group discussions, key informant interviews both using checklists and literature review were the methods used for data collection. The Sukuma agro-pastoralists, Maasai and Barbaig pastoralists were the most ethnic groups affected by the resettlement exercise. It was envisaged that a pragmatic approach to land and water resources management such as effective land use plans, natural resource monitoring plans, sensitization programs and rule of law are needed to avoid future confl icts over land resources use and to ensure people- centered development process is achieved.