Title: Investigation of possibility for co-management for sustainable management of lake Jipe wetland in Tanzania

Primary Researcher: Christopher Mahonge
Email address: cmahonge@gmail.com
Submitted on: September 14, 2005

Start date: 01 September 2005
End date: 30 September 2009

Introduction:

In Tanzania, wetlands cover over 7% of the country’s surface area. Wetlands are defined as areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 meters. They are potential areas which provide both biological and socio-economic functions and benefits. However, wetlands in Tanzania face various constraints. Lake Jipe, one of the wetlands in Tanzania, is a representative case experiencing these constraints at international, national and local scales. At international level, there is no shared management plan between Tanzania and Kenya as yet. At national level, there is no national wetland management plan and coordination among stakeholders is not clear. Currently, at local level the lake faces degradation including spread of invasive typha water weeds, siltation and pollution due to subsistence and commercial farming, as well as contrasting interests among users.
Few studies have been done in Lake Jipe, and have mostly concentrated on how to eradicate water weeds, and little attention has been given to the livelihood practices of local community. In recent years (2004 onwards), with the recognition of increase in degradation of lake Jipe and inseparable nature of people and the lake, the Tanzanian government has initiated an awareness raising strategy for inhabitants around the wetland, and other stakeholders outside the lake region, on the degradation status of the lake, which ultimately prepares an integrated management plan. Among the efforts of Tanzanian government for awareness raising strategy, there is also a need to understand how and why livelihoods practices of local community impacts on the lake. Equally important, is the investigation of how the government has been intervening to regulate impact due to community livelihood practices through it relevant policies and institutions. This study aims at investigating the possibility for co-management between local community (upstream and downstream) and the Tanzanian government for sustainable management of Lake Jipe.
The main research question is to determine how state top-down and local community horizontal policy processes can be integrated for co-management of Lake Jipe wetland. To answer the main research question the current study will first determine how agricultural and livestock management, and water management policies and institutional arrangements are communicated from central government through local government to the local communities around Lake Jipe, and how the local community respond to these policies. Second, investigation will be made of how horizontal processes regarding farming and water management practices of upstream and downstream communities of lake Jipe interact and affect the lake, and what are the driving forces of these processes. Third, interpretation of the findings from the first and second sub-questions will be done for suggesting a co-management (integration of national and local communities’ processes) for improved management of the lake. Up to recent time, there has not been a coordinated effort between the state and local communities. However, currently, initiatives have been started by the government to integrate local communities in the management plan first by arising communities’ awareness. The question now is how the two levels can be linked, which implies a need for researching their processes, and this is what the current study is going to investigate. The data will be generated using case study methodology. The study will contribute to the theory on natural governance, by suggesting co-management possibilities between Tanzanian government and local communities.

Aim:

Main research question

How can state top-down and local community horizontal policy processes be integrated for co-management of Lake Jipe wetland?

Objective:
To determine how state and local community policy processes can be integrated to form co-management arrangement for sustainable management of lake Jipe wetland

In order to provide answers to the main research question the following sub-research questions will be answered:

Sub-research question 1

How are state agricultural and livestock, and water policies and institutional arrangements, communicated from central government through local government to the local communities around Lake Jipe, and how do the community respond to these policies?

Objectives:
1. To determine how policies and institutional arrangements regarding agriculture, and water management are formulated and communicated from central to local government at the district level.

2. To determine how the local government at the district level translates the policies and institutional arrangements from the central government, and communicates the policies further to the village council at local communities for implementation.

3. To study how departments of water, livestock management and agriculture at the local government level interact and coordinate the different policies and roles to avoid fragmentation and contradictory management ends

4. To determine the response of local communities around Lake Jipe in the implementation of above stated policies, and institutions, communicated to them by the central and local government domains


Sub-research question 2

How do local communities’ processes regarding farming and water use of upstream and downstream communities of lake Jipe interact and affect the lake, and what are the driving forces of these processes?


Objectives:
1. To identify farming and water management practices of upstream and downstream communities, and study where and how they are practiced, and find out driving factors for these practices.

2. To identify actors involved in decision making and implementation processes over farming and water management practices identified in objective one for upstream and downstream localities, and determine the rationale for distribution of decision making and implementation processes.

3. To determine how decision making and implementation regarding farming and water use of upstream communities affect the downstream communities and examine the response of the later.

4. To determine historical changes in farming and water management practices of both upstream and downstream communities and find out reasons for those changes


Sub-research question 3

How can vertical and horizontal policy processes regarding farming and water management be integrated for sustainable management of lake Jipe wetland?

Objective:
1. To interpret the findings from vertical policy processes and horizontal policy processes for suggesting a co-management arrangement for sustainable wetland management at Lake Jipe

2. To assess the feasibility of such a co-management scheme with national and local stakeholders around Lake Jipe.

Research:

External funding

Yes

External Funding Sponsors

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in collaboration with Wageningen University