Scoping the potential of ‘rewards for environmental services’ in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania
The Usambara Mountains are an important source of water for north eastern Tanzania. The towns of Lushoto, Mombo, Korogwe, Muheza and Tanga rely on water from the Usambara Mountains. The Pangani River, which flows from Mt Kilimanjaro, receives significant inflows from the Usambaras. The river is used for irrigating farms and powering a series of hydro electric stations.
A homestead on the forest line at the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. (PHOTO: J. Jabbour)
Deforestation, poor land management practices and inadequate funds for watershed management pose a threat to the long term supply of quality water from the Usambaras to downstream communities. The direct adverse impacts are immediately seen in agricultural production, municipal water supply and hydropower generation.
The PRESA project is working with site partners to link upland farming communities with urban water utilities, hydro-power generators and downstream agricultural producers. This will result in greater co-operation for restoring and sustaining a healthy catchment ecosystem.
PRESA’s main partner in the Usambaras is the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) working closely with the African Highlands Initiative (AHI).
Activities
In 2009, SARI carried out research to take stock of rewards for environmental services initiatives in the area. This included analysis of relevant institutional contexts specifically at the West Usambara Mountains, Lushoto and Korogwe Districts. A survey was conducted to generate information on the status of rewards for environmental services including a quick appraisal of existing mechanisms and how local institutional foundations can facilitate fair and workable reward schemes in Lushoto district.
The project was appreciated and seen to be promising, in terms of halting the escalation of environmental degradation. For example, River Soni has become a seasonal river due to destruction of the ecosystem around its source. Stakeholders emphasized the need for ‘sellers’ and ‘buyers’ to cooperate in ensuring sustainable flow of water and other environmental services.
The intention of the study was to draw attention to stakeholders, including farmers, on the different types of rewards for environmental services that may benefit them. Cash payments were discussed as well as the modes of payment, which are determined by the environmental stewards (in most cases communities) as well as the buyers through negotiations.
Opportunities and remaining challenges for PRESA
Conservation activities that can link to different types of reward systems were identified as follows:
Water conservation: The highlanders can be rewarded for their conservation efforts by downstream water users. Potential buyers are large scale water users particularly sisal processing factories in Mombo, Mkumbara, Mazinde, Kwembaguru and all other sisal plantations in Korogwe district. Other buyers are the Mombo irrigation scheme and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd (TANESCO). Government authorities could emerge as honest intermediaries to ensure fairness, equity, and maintain law and order.
Carbon sequestration: Where farmers have planted trees, measurement of carbon sequestered can be carried out. The amount of carbon per unit area can be aggregated to reach the tradeable volume. Government and other institutions like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund may be the potential buyers while farmers are sellers.
Soil conservation: Through use of soil conservation technologies, farmers contribute towards enhanced water infiltration, increased soil carbon and fertility, increased food productivity and nature conservation.
Potential barriers to provision of ecosystem services
Most of the conservation activities are expensive, for instance, terracing which is key to soil conservation and water infiltration, is labour intensive and many farmers shy away from it. Tree planting requires buying seedlings but the majority of farmers are living below the poverty line of a dollar per day.
Land is a limiting factor due to increasing population and poor land productivity. This has resulted into individuals owning small land holdings scattered within or outside the village. The study by SARI found that 50% of the land is leased and the occupants may not be willing to invest conservation work on land that does not belong to them.
By-laws are necessary to enhance ecosystem conservation efforts but the lack of relevant by-laws was mentioned in some villages. This has contributed to failure in implementing measures that can improve environmental services. For those villages with adequate by-laws, enforcement is a problem as the capabilities of law enforcers in the rural areas are limited. Besides, most penalties are too low to stop violators from repeating the same offense.
Communicating payments for ecosystems services should be done carefully, so as not to raise local expectations, possibly disorganize existing structures and negatively affect social norms.
Partners
- African Highlands Initiative (AHI)
- Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)
- Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI)
- Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)
Stakeholders
- Tanzania National Electric Supply Company (TANESCO)
- Pangani Water Basin Office (PWBO)
- Local farmer organizations
- Local planning and agriculture authorities