Impacts of Community Livelihood Strategies on Natural Resources Management: A Case of Agro-Pastoralists in the Lower Mara River Basin.

Jambau, Elibariki Martin (2021) Impacts of Community Livelihood Strategies on Natural Resources Management: A Case of Agro-Pastoralists in the Lower Mara River Basin. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study aimed to establish the impacts of communities’ livelihood on natural re-source management, among agro-pastoralists in the Mara River Basin . Data was col-lected using structured questionnaires together with field observation. Data collected through questionnaires were edited, coded, summarized, classified, tabulated and finally analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study shows that 95% are farmers and mostly (78.9%) lived in the Basin for more than 10 years doing farming activities and keeping livestock. Possible mitigations suggested in-cluded the encouragement of agro forestry practices which was recommended by 55.3% of respondents, 43.4% recommended development of village land use plans and bylaws. 27.6% recommended introduction of the alternative sources of income that are environment friendly, 55.3% recommended education on better livestock keeping methodologies, 6.6% recommends stop uses of pesticides and herbicides in water bodies, 5.3% recommend reduce overstocking. Out of 76 respondents, 60.5 % are aware that climatic changes affect natural resources in the region and the main effect 15.8% recommended to be the increase of temperature. 14.5% deforestation, 7.9% dried sources of water, 5.3% floods, 6.6% said loss of biodiversity and 1.3% said food insecurity. Government and other institutions managed to provide various support to the communities, this included, awareness creation on natural resources management, establishment of WUAs, distribution trees seedlings, support on devel-opment of land use plans and alternative source of income. Pastoralists should be in-volved whether in policies reviews or formulation as they will feel part of the process and will help in the management of natural resources. Keywords: Community, Liveli-hood Strategies, Natural Resources.

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