IUCN_An Integrated Assessment of the Biodiversity, Livelihood and Economic Value of Wetlands in Mtanza-Msona Village_Tanzania

8/3/2019 IUCN_An Integrated Assessment of the Biodiversity, Livelihood and Economic Value of Wetlands in Mtanza-Msona Vil

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IUCN Tanzania Country Office

An integrated assessment of the biodiversity,livelihood and economic value of wetlands inMtanza-Msona Village, Tanzania

Gita Kasthala, Aloyce Hepelwa, Hamoud Hamiss, Emmanuel Kwayu,Lucy Emerton, Oliver Springate-Baginski, David Allen and Will Darwall


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An integrated assessment of the biodiversity,livelihood and economic value of wetlands inMtanza-Msona Village, Tanzania

Gita Kasthala, Aloyce Hepelwa, Hamoud Hamiss, Emmanuel Kwayu,Lucy Emerton, Oliver Springate-Baginski, David Allen and Will Darwall

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This document was produced under the project Strengthening Pro-Poor Wetland Conservation UsingIntegrated Biodiversity and Livelihood Assessment, carried out with financial support from the DarwinInitiative of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The views expressed inthis publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or Defra.

Published by: IUCN Tanzania Country Office

Copyright: 2008 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Citation: Kasthala, G., Hepelwa, A., Hamiss, H., Kwayu, E., Emerton, L., Springate-Baginski, O.,Allen, D., and W. Darwall (2008) An integrated assessment of the biodiversity, livelihoodand economic value of wetlands in Mtanza-Msona Village, Tanzania. Tanzania CountryOffice, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Dar es Salaam.

Cover Photo: Fishermen at Lake Mtanza. Gita Kasthala 2006

Design: Lucy Emerton

Produced by: IUCN Global Economics & the Environment Programme

Available from: Tanzania Country OfficeIUCN63/1 Galu StreetAda Estate, KinondoniPO Box 13513Dar es SalaamTanzania

Freshwater Biodiversity UnitIUCN Species Programme

219c Huntingdon RoadCambridge CB3 ODLUnited KingdomEmail: [email protected]://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/our_work/freshwater/darwin_index.htm

Global Economics & the Environment ProgrammeIUCN4/1 Adams AvenueColombo 4Sri Lanka


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Contents

Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................................................................iList of Tables, Figures, Boxes Photos and Maps..................................................................................................................................iiNote on Maps.................................................................................................................................................................................... ..viList of Acronmyms....................................................................................................................................................................... ........vi

Introduction: strengthening pro-poor wetland conservation using integrated biodiversity, livelihood and

economic assessment.......................................................................................................................................1The project...........................................................................................................................................................................................1Aims of this study.................................................................................................................................................................................1Setting the scene: Mtanza-Msona Village, Tanzania............................................................................................................................3Location................................................................................................................................................................................................3Natural environment.............................................................................................................................................................................3Human environment.............................................................................................................................................................................8Environmental governance...................................................................................................................................................................8

Methodology: how the assessment was carried out.......................................................................................11The principles of integrated wetland assessment...............................................................................................................................11Applying an integrated methodology in Mtanza-Msona......................................................................................................................12A note on overcoming integration challenges during fieldwork...........................................................................................................14Defining the management objective................................................................................................................................................. ..14Survey techniques and data collection methods.................................................................................................................................15

Findings on village livelihood assets and vulnerability context.......................................................................28Applying the sustainable livelihoods framework in Mtanza-Msona.....................................................................................................28Human capital....................................................................................................................................................................................29Social capital................................................................................................................................................................................ ......30Physical capital...................................................................................................................................................................................30Financial capital..................................................................................................................................................................................32Natural capital....................................................................................................................................................................................33Household production, consumption and income flows......................................................................................................................33Vulnerability context......................................................................................................................................................................... ..33

Findings from the literature review of biodiversity throughout the wider Rufiji District....................................38

Findings from the biodiversity field survey......................................................................................................44Fish.....................................................................................................................................................................................................45Birds...................................................................................................................................................................................................46Amphibians.........................................................................................................................................................................................49Vegetation..........................................................................................................................................................................................50Mammals............................................................................................................................................................................................50Crabs..................................................................................................................................................................................................50Odonata..............................................................................................................................................................................................51

Findings on the local use and economic value of wetland biodiversity...........................................................52Fishing................................................................................................................................................................................................52Woodfuel............................................................................................................................................................................................57Timber................................................................................................................................................................................................58Grasses, reeds and palms..................................................................................................................................................................60Medicinal and aromatic plants............................................................................................................................................................61Wild food plants..................................................................................................................................................................................62Hunting and animal-based foods........................................................................................................................................................64Wild honey..........................................................................................................................................................................................66Clay....................................................................................................................................................................................................66Indirect, option and existence values..................................................................................................................................................67

Conclusions: the livelihood and economic value of Mtanza-Msonas wetland biodiversity............................69

Household participation in wetland activities............................................................................................................................. .........69The economic value of wetland resource use.....................................................................................................................................70Wealth, poverty and wetland dependence..........................................................................................................................................71How wetlands contribute to social wellbeing and positive livelihood outcomes..................................................................................74

Management implications: conserving wetlands for sustainable livelihoods..................................................79Understanding Mtanza-Msona wetlands in the context of national and local-level environmental management processes...............79Making the economic and development case for village wetland conservation..................................................................................79Providing local-level incentives for wetland conservation...................................................................................................................80

References......................................................................................................................................................82

Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................................................................iList of Tables, Figures, Boxes Photos and Maps..................................................................................................................................iiNote on Maps.................................................................................................................................................................................... ..viList of Acronmyms....................................................................................................................................................................... ........vi

Introduction: strengthening pro-poor wetland conservation using integrated biodiversity, livelihood andeconomic assessment.......................................................................................................................................1The project...........................................................................................................................................................................................1Aims of this study.................................................................................................................................................................................1

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Setting the scene: Mtanza-Msona Village, Tanzania............................................................................................................................3Location................................................................................................................................................................................................3Natural environment........................................................................................................................................................................... ..3Human environment........................................................................................................................................................................... ..8Environmental governance...................................................................................................................................................................8

Methodology: how the assessment was carried out.......................................................................................11The principles of integrated wetland assessment...............................................................................................................................11Applying an integrated methodology in Mtanza-Msona......................................................................................................................12A note on overcoming integration challenges during fieldwork...........................................................................................................14

Defining the management objective................................................................................................................................................. ..14Survey techniques and data collection methods.................................................................................................................................15

Livelihoods and economic values..........................................................................................................15Biodiversity.............................................................................................................................................23

Findings on village livelihood assets and vulnerability context.......................................................................28Applying the sustainable livelihoods framework in Mtanza-Msona.................................................................................................... .28Human capital.................................................................................................................................................................................. ..29

Place of origin........................................................................................................................................29Household size and composition...........................................................................................................29Education and occupation......................................................................................................................29Health status..........................................................................................................................................30

Social capital................................................................................................................................................................................ ......30Physical capital...................................................................................................................................................................................30

Farmland................................................................................................................................................30Livestock................................................................................................................................................31Housing, tools and equipment...............................................................................................................32Public infrastructure...............................................................................................................................32

Financial capital..................................................................................................................................................................................32Natural capital.................................................................................................................................................................................. ..33Household production, consumption and income flows......................................................................................................................33Vulnerability context....................................................................................................................................................................... ....33

Stresses and shocks..............................................................................................................................34Factors which influence peoples vulnerability and resilience...............................................................34Wealth status.........................................................................................................................................35Trends and changes..............................................................................................................................35

Findings from the literature review of biodiversity throughout the wider Rufiji District....................................38Vegetation..............................................................................................................................................39

Mammals................................................................................................................................................40Birds.......................................................................................................................................................40Amphibians............................................................................................................................................40Reptiles..................................................................................................................................................40Fish.........................................................................................................................................................41Molluscs.................................................................................................................................................41Crabs......................................................................................................................................................42Odonates................................................................................................................................................42

Findings from the biodiversity field survey......................................................................................................44Fish.....................................................................................................................................................................................................45

Kachinga................................................................................................................................................46Birds...................................................................................................................................................................................................46

Mkono.....................................................................................................................................................47

Amphibians.........................................................................................................................................................................................49Vegetation..........................................................................................................................................................................................50Mammals............................................................................................................................................................................................50Crabs..................................................................................................................................................................................................50Odonata..............................................................................................................................................................................................51

Findings on the local use and economic value of wetland biodiversity...........................................................52Fishing................................................................................................................................................................................................52

Who engages in fishing..........................................................................................................................52What, where and when people fish........................................................................................................53How people fish......................................................................................................................................54How much is caught...............................................................................................................................55The value of fishing................................................................................................................................56

Woodfuel............................................................................................................................................................................................57

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................57

The value of firewood and charcoal ......................................................................................................57Timber................................................................................................................................................................................................58

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................58The value of timber................................................................................................................................59


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Grasses, reeds and palms..................................................................................................................................................................60

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................60Medicinal and aromatic plants............................................................................................................................................................61

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................61The value of medicinal and aromatic plants..........................................................................................62

Wild food plants..................................................................................................................................................................................62

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................62The value of wild food plants ................................................................................................................63

Hunting and animal-based foods........................................................................................................................................................64What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................64The value of hunting...............................................................................................................................65

Wild honey..........................................................................................................................................................................................66

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................66The value of wild honey and beeswax...................................................................................................66

Clay....................................................................................................................................................................................................66

What is used and by whom....................................................................................................................66The value of clay....................................................................................................................................66

Indirect, option and existence values..................................................................................................................................................67

Conclusions: the livelihood and economic value of Mtanza-Msonas wetland biodiversity............................69Household participation in wetland activities............................................................................................................................. .........69The economic value of wetland resource use.....................................................................................................................................70Wealth, poverty and wetland dependence..........................................................................................................................................71

How wetlands contribute to social wellbeing and positive livelihood outcomes..................................................................................74Peoples occupations.............................................................................................................................74Household and village economies.........................................................................................................74Human wellbeing....................................................................................................................................76

Management implications: conserving wetlands for sustainable livelihoods..................................................79Understanding Mtanza-Msona wetlands in the context of national and local-level environmental management processes...............79Making the economic and development case for village wetland conservation..................................................................................79Providing local-level incentives for wetland conservation...................................................................................................................80

References......................................................................................................................................................82Annex 1: By-laws to protect the natural forests and the environment of Mtanza-Msona Village..............................................................84Annex 2: Forest management plan for Mtanza-Msona North Village Forest Reserve.............................................................................90Annex 3: Household questionnaire..........................................................................................................................................................94Annex 4: Data tables from the household survey..................................................................................................................................120Annex 5: Seasonal calendars................................................................................................................................................................122

Annex 6: Species lists for Mtanza-Msona..............................................................................................................................................124Annex 7: Value of and participation in wetland activities.......................................................................................................................140Annex 8: Geo-reference data................................................................................................................................................................142

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Acknowledgements

The project Strengthening Pro-Poor Wetland Conservation Using Integrated Biodiversity and LivelihoodAssessment is funded under the Darwin Initiative of the UK Department for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs. At a global level the project is implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) and the Overseas Development Group (ODG) of the University of East Anglia. Project partners inTanzania, under the coordination of the IUCN Tanzania Country Office, are the Rufiji District Council, and

the Economic Research Bureau, Institute of Resource Assessment and Department of Geography of theUniversity of Dar es Salaam.

The authors would like to acknowledge many individuals and institutions for their support in making thisassessment possible, while emphasising that any errors remain those of the authors alone.

Firstly, we express our huge thanks to the villagers of Mtanza-Msona for their help and participationthroughout the assessment. In particular we acknowledge the Village Government and the VillageEnvironment Committee for their permission for the project to work in Mtanza-Msona, and thank ShabaniNyangalio (Natural Resource Scout), Moshi Makasamala (Village Fisheries Officer), Hussain Hari (RufijiDistrict Council) and all the other villagers and District staff who assisted the project team with survey work.Elisabeth Taratibu is acknowledged for her assistance in the field, and many thanks are given to those whosupervised fieldwork Dr Kassim Kulindwa and Dr George Jambiya of the University of Dar es Salaam, andMs Hulda Gideon of COSTECH.

Channa Bambaradeniya and Gaya Sriskanthan of the IUCN Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group Asiaprovided key inputs into the dry season biodiversity fieldwork, as did Mathew Knisely. Dr Geoffrey Howardof the IUCNs Global Invasive Species Programme kindly gave of his time and expertise to accompany theteam on their initial scoping mission. Throughout the project Abdulrahman S. Issa and Yassin Mkwizu ofIUCNs Tanzania Country Office provided ongoing managerial and technical support, while fieldwork couldnot have happened without the logistical and administrative backing of Mujungu and Elsie, also of IUCNTanzania.

Last but not least, the Darwin team would like to acknowledge the ongoing technical comments and adviceof Dr Olivier Hamerlynck and Dr Stphanie Duvail; special thanks are given to Dr. Duvail for allowing us tomake use of the Mtanza-Msona basemap. We are also grateful to Dr Viola Clausnitzer for her kindassistance with the identification of Odonata photographs, and to Dr Kim Howell for his key inputs in theidentification of species.

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List of Tables, Figures, Boxes Photos and Maps

Table 1: Sample sizes for each hamlet...........................................................................................................20

Table 2: Numbers of households interviewed.................................................................................................20

Table 3: Characteristics of different wealth categories as applied in survey data analysis............................21

Table 4: Main Occupations of Respondent Households in Mtanza-Msona .................................................29

Table 5: Cropping patterns and areas.............................................................................................................31

Table 6: Ownership of household assets........................................................................................................32

Table 7: Non-wetland household production and income...............................................................................33

Table 8: Village wealth categories..................................................................................................................35

Table 9: Perceptions of changes in household food status over the last year...............................................37

Table 10: Perceptions of changes in household socio-economic status over the last year...........................37

Table 11: Numbers of species assessed in each country of the Eastern Africa freshwater biodiversityassessment region..........................................................................................................................................38

Table 12: The global conservation status of species in four key freshwater taxa in Eastern Africa...............38

Table 13: The regional conservation status of selected freshwater species within the Eastern Africa region..........................................................................................................................................................................38

Table 14: Plants of conservation concern present in Rufiji District.................................................................39

Table 15: Commonly utilised timber species sourced from the Mtanza forests.............................................39

Table 16: Tanzanian endemic reptile species recorded in Rufiji District by Doody and Hamerlynck (2003). 41

Table 17: The conservation status of mollusc species from the Rufiji River basin.........................................42

Table 18: Checklist of native Tanzanian freshwater crabs and their conservation status..............................42

Table 19: Odonata species recorded as present in the Rufiji river basin by the IUCN Red List ...................43

Table 20: Key habitat types found in the Mtanza-Msona village area............................................................45

Table 21: Fish species utilised in the Mtanza-Msona wetlands......................................................................46

Table 22: Dry season (September 2006) bird observations for 6 key wetland sites in the Mtanza-Msonawetlands..........................................................................................................................................................47

Table 23: Frogs and toads recorded during the Mtanza-Msona wetland survey............................................49Table 24: Mammals present within the Mtanza-Msona wetlands...................................................................50

Table 25: Odonata collected from lakes and associated habitats..................................................................51

Table 26: Distribution of fish species and seasonality....................................................................................53

Table 27: Fish catch per unit effort..................................................................................................................56

Table 28: The value of fishing.........................................................................................................................56

Table 29: The value of firewood......................................................................................................................57

Table 30: The value of charcoal......................................................................................................................57

Table 31: Tree species used for timber...........................................................................................................58

Table 32: The value of wood used for house construction.............................................................................59

Table 33: The value of wood-based assets....................................................................................................59Table 34: The value of timber harvesting for sale...........................................................................................59

Table 35: Value-added through the manufacture of timber products.............................................................59

Table 36: The value of grasses, reeds and palms..........................................................................................60

Table 37: Value-added through products manufactured from palm leaves....................................................60

Table 38: Commonly-used medicinal plants...................................................................................................61

Table 39: The value of plant-based medicines...............................................................................................62

Table 40: The value of plants for cosmetics...................................................................................................62

Table 41: The value of plants for essential oils...............................................................................................62

Table 42: Wild food plants...............................................................................................................................62

Table 43: The value of wild food plants...........................................................................................................63Table 44: Animals hunted and/or consumed..................................................................................................64

Table 45: The value of hunting........................................................................................................................66

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Table 46: The value of insects........................................................................................................................66

Table 47: The value of wild honey and beeswax collection............................................................................66

Table 48: The value of clay.............................................................................................................................67

Table 49: Mean maximum willingness to pay for indirect, option and bequest values...................................67

Table 50: Probit regression results for WTP for conservation of the Mtanza-Msona wetlands......................68

Table 51: The value of wetland resources to Mtanza-Msona Village.............................................................71

Table 52: Average number of wetlands activities by household wealth category..........................................71Table 53: Average wetlands value by household wealth category.................................................................73

Table 54: Main stated occupations of households .......................................................................................74

Table 55: Total wetland value as compared to other sources of household production and income.............75

Table 56: The value of medicinal plants as compared to household medical expenditures..........................75

Table 57: The value of wild foods as compared to household expenditures on food.....................................75

Table 58: Total number of species, number of threatened species, and level of unassessed species foreach group included in the Mtanza-Msona survey.........................................................................................80

Annex Table 59: Origin of survey respondents.............................................................................................120

Annex Table 60: Education levels of respondents by gender.......................................................................120

Annex Table 61: Prevalence of disease.......................................................................................................120Annex Table 62: Mosquito net ownership.....................................................................................................120

Annex Table 63: Distribution of land between households...........................................................................120

Annex Table 64: Households experiencing food shortage over the past year.............................................121

Annex Table 65: Household wealth ranking by hamlet.................................................................................121

Annex Table 66: Seasonal activities calendar..............................................................................................122

Annex Table 67: Crop cultivation calendar...................................................................................................122

Annex Table 68: Availability of wild vegetables and grains..........................................................................123

Annex Table 69: Amphibian species in Rufiji District, reported by Doody and Hamerlynck (2003).............124

Annex Table 70: Fish species present within the Rufiji District (Doody and Hamerlynck 2003)..................124

Annex Table 71: Bird species list for the Mtanza-Msona wetlands..............................................................125

Annex Table 72: Mammals present within the Mtanza-Msona wetlands......................................................127

Annex Table 73: Dragonflies recorded from the Rufiji region (from Clausnitzer, 2006) with their Red Liststatus.............................................................................................................................................................128

Annex Table 74: Reptiles (other than snakes) recorded in Rufiji District. Extracted from Doody andHamerlynck (2003)........................................................................................................................................129

Annex Table 75: Snakes recorded in the Rufiji District. Adapted from Doody and Hamerlynck (2003).......130

Annex Table 76: Plant species present in Riufiji District, Tanzania, from Doody and Hamerlynck (2003). .132

Annex Table 77: Rate of engagement in wetland activities..........................................................................140

Annex Table 78: Proportion of households engaging in wetland activities, and value of use......................140

Annex Table 79: Engagement in wetland activities by household wealth category (% of hholds)...............141

Annex Table 80: Value of wetland activities by household wealth category (TSh/year)..............................141Annex Table 81: Georeferencing of Mtanza-Msona Village households involved in the survey..................142

Annex Table 82: Georeferencing of Mtanza-Msona Village facilities and landmarks...................................143

Figure 1: The integrated approach to wetland assessment............................................................................12

Figure 2: Steps and stages in carrying out the study, including stakeholder feedback..................................13

Figure 3: The sustainable livelihoods framework............................................................................................28

Figure 4: Agricultural landholdings: ownership, use, size and distribution.....................................................31

Figure 5: Households experiencing food shortage over the past year...........................................................34

Figure 6: Abundance and diversity of waterbirds in Mtanza-Msona village wetlands....................................48

Figure 7: Relative abundances of birds in the wetlands of Mtanza-Msona. Source: Darwin field survey,

2006-7.............................................................................................................................................................49Figure 8: The total economic value of wetlands..............................................................................................67

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Figure 9: Rate of engagement in wetland activities........................................................................................69

Figure 10: Summary of household participation in wetland activities.............................................................69

Figure 11: Summary of the value of wetland products and activities to user households..............................70

Figure 12: Contribution of different wetland products and activities to total value..........................................71

Figure 13: Engagement in and income from wetland activities by household wealth category.....................72

Figure 14: Contribution of wetland resources to household production and income by wealth group...........76

Figure 15: Contribution of wetland resources to value of household medicines by wealth group..................76Figure 16: Contribution of wetland resources to household food value by wealth group...............................76

Figure 17: Ecosystem services and human wellbeing....................................................................................77

Figure 18: The contribution of wetland products to fulfilling basic human needs...........................................77

Box 1: Vegetation and land use classification for Mtanza-Msona Village.........................................................5

Box 2: Information collected during focus group interviews............................................................................17

Box 3: Estimation of wetland indirect use, option and bequest values using CVM........................................22

Box 4: Fishing methods in Mtanza-Msona......................................................................................................55

Photo 1: Wooded grassland..............................................................................................................................7

Photo 2: Rufiji Floodplain..................................................................................................................................7

Photo 3: Rufiji River...........................................................................................................................................7

Photo 4: Lake Mkono........................................................................................................................................7

Photo 5: Lake Mtanza.......................................................................................................................................7

Photo 6: Lake Makoge......................................................................................................................................7

Photo 7: Mtanza-Msona Environmental Library................................................................................................9

Photo 8: Environmental Management Plans for Mtanza-Msona, Jaja, Mbunju-Mvuleni and TwasalieVillages, Rufiji District......................................................................................................................................10

Photo 9: Village meeting.................................................................................................................................16

Photo 10: Interviewing fishermen at Lake Mtanza landing site.......................................................................17

Photo 11: Georeferencing water resources....................................................................................................20Photo 12: Conducting a market survey of fish traders....................................................................................21

Photo 13: Focus group interview with fisherfolk..............................................................................................22

Photo 14: Sampling molluscs..........................................................................................................................25

Photo 15: Sampling odonates.........................................................................................................................26

Photo 16: Setting bucket pitfall traps...............................................................................................................26

Photo 17: Cyclid; Kumba (Oreochromis urolepis) is the most frequently caught fish from Mtanza-Msonawetlands..........................................................................................................................................................46

Photo 18: Cyprinidae probably from the Labeo family is commonly found in fishers catches.......................46

Photo 19: A mating pair of damselflies on a hand-dug pond by Kisima Mchele lake.....................................51

Photo 20: Female of Anax tristis found on Dai Lake, previously unrecorded in Rufiji District........................51Photo 21: Fisherman on Lake Mtanza............................................................................................................57

Photo 22: Firewood harvesting.......................................................................................................................58

Photo 23: Timber harvesting...........................................................................................................................60

Photo 24: Hats made from wetland palm species...........................................................................................61

Photo 25: Leguminous aquatic plant used for food.........................................................................................64

Photo 26: Rubbish dumped in woodland area close to the village.................................................................80

Photo 27: Infestations of the invasive species Pistia stratiotes on Lake Kihimbwa........................................80

Map 1: Location of Mtanza-Msona Village in Rufiji District...............................................................................3

Map 2: Mtanza-Msona vegetation and land use...............................................................................................4

Map 3: Location of survey households and hamlets.......................................................................................18

Map 4: Sampling locations within the Mtanza-Msona wetlands for Odonata, Molluscs, Birds and Anurans. 24

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Map 5: Wetland and landcover types within the Mtanza-Msona village area.................................................44

Map 6: Fishing sites in Mtanza-Msona............................................................................................................52

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Note on Maps

Unless otherwise stated, all maps in this document are based on the following co-ordinate system: WGS1984, UTM Zone 37S.

The base map used throughout this report was produced (orthorectification, photo-interpretation, imageanalysis and cartography) by Stphanie Duvail (Institut de Recherche pour le Dveloppement) for the

publication Mtanza-Msona Village, Our Village Environment Management Plan - An account of How WeDrew It Up And Are Implementing It - Know Mtanza-Msona's Environment, 2004, IUCN - Eastern AfricaRegional Programme. Map based on Aerial photographs1/50000 June 1999, prepared by Photomap forREMP and Landsat image courtesy of the Tanzania Coastal Management Partnership (TCMP), June 2000.

Map redigitised by Dr. Anna McIvor (IUCN FBU) with permission from S. Duvail. Original groundtruthing(2003) by the villagers of Mtanza-Msona (P. Mwambeso, R. Elibariki) with S. Duvail, O. Hamerlynck.Additional groundtruthing by villagers and the Darwin project field team during fieldwork (Sept-Oct 2006,Feb-March 2007).

List of Acronmyms

CPUE Catch per unit effortCVM Contingent valuation methodDefra UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsGDP Gross Domestic ProductIUCN International Union for Conservation of NatureODG Overseas Development Group of the University of East AngliaPRA Participatory rural appraisalREMP Rufiji Environmental Management ProgrammeTSh Tanzania Shilling (at the time of writing the exchange rate was US$1:TSh1,153)VEC Village Environment CommitteeVEMP Village Environmental Management PlanWTP Willingness to Pay

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Introduction: strengthening pro-poor wetland conservation using integratedbiodiversity, livelihood and economic assessment

The project

The project Strengthening Pro-Poor Wetland Conservation Using Integrated Biodiversity and Livelihood

Assessment, funded under the Darwin Initiative of the UK Department for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs, runs between October 2005 and September 2008.

The goal of the project is that pro-poor approaches to the conservation and sustainable use of threatenedwetlands are strengthened through improved capacity, awareness and information on the biodiversity andlivelihood value of aquatic ecosystems. A weak appreciation and lack of accessible information about thelinks between wetland biodiversity, economic status and livelihood security, and especially of theimportance of wetlands to the poorest, remains one of the most important factors underpinning wetlanddegradation and loss. The project is founded on the recognition that developing sustainable, effective andequitable approaches to wetland conservation requires a thorough understanding of the interlinkagesbetween socio-economic and biophysical status, influences and threats.

This, in turn, requires that the methodologies used to assess wetlands and to inform management

responses are integrated, and deal with biodiversity, livelihood and economic aspects. At the same time,there is a need to ensure that such information and insights are practical and policy-relevant, and aregeared towards addressing real-world issues and concerns in wetland management. While techniquesexist, and have long been used, to assess wetland biological, economic and livelihood values and trendsseparately, there is a lack of available methods to assess the interlinkages and connectivity betweenwetland health and economic/livelihood status, or to express this information in a form and with a focus thatcan inform and influence real-world conservation and development planning.

The project thus aims to help in overcoming these methodological and informational constraints by thedevelopment and application of integrated assessment methods that can generate planning and decisionsupport information to strengthen pro-poor approaches to wetland conservation. To these ends, activitiesbeing carried out under the project include the development of an integrated wetland assessmentmethodology and field protocol, the production of a toolkit outlining this methodology, and its application in

two case study field sites: Stung Treng Ramsar Site in Cambodia, and Mtanza-Msona Village in Tanzania.

Each of these two field studies involves the application of integrated assessment techniques to address aspecific management issue which relates to the interaction between wetland conservation and sustainabledevelopment in that site, thus generating practical and policy-relevant information for planners and decision-makers who are engaged in wetland management. They also provide an opportunity to work with nationaland local partners to develop, field-test and refine the integrated assessment methodology and toolkit whichare being prepared under the project.

Aims of this study

Mtanza-Msona Village, in the Rufiji Floodplain of east-central Tanzania, was chosen as one of the two pilot

field sites for this project due to the presence of rich wetland resources which yield a range of products thatare used for subsistence and income purposes by local populations, and provide critical inputs intolivelihoods particularly for poorer and more vulnerable groups in the community.

The inclusion of Mtanza-Msona as a field site also provides an opportunity for the assessment to inputdirectly into ongoing wetland management processes. Between 1998 and 2003, the Rufiji EnvironmentalManagement Project (implemented by the Government of Tanzania and IUCN) had the goal of promotingthe long-term conservation and sustainable use of wetland resources and of improving and securing locallivelihoods in the Rufiji Floodpain and Delta.

The Regional Natural Resources Department, District Natural Resources Officers and Village EnvironmentCommittees developed a series of District and Village Environmental Management Plans for pilot villages,including Mtanza-Msona. The integrated assessment being carried out under the current project aims to

generate management information about the links between wetland biodiversity, livelihoods and economicvalues which can assist in the implementation of the Village Environmental Management Plan (VEMP) forMtanza-Msona.

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A number of activities have been carried out under the project alongside the integrated field assessment, inpartnership with the national institutions collaborating in the research (Rufiji District Council, and theEconomic Research Bureau, Institute of Resource Assessment and Department of Geography of theUniversity of Dar es Salaam). These include holding training courses on integrated wetland assessmentand analysis, producing English and KiSwahili awareness and information briefs, and running nationalpolicy roundtables and local dialogues.

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Setting the scene: Mtanza-Msona Village, Tanzania

The field assessment was carried out on Mtanza-Msona Village, Rufiji District. It focuses on all the wetlands(permanent and seasonal rivers, streams, lakes, swamps and floodplains) found within the villageboundaries, including associated forest and grassland areas. This chapter provides a brief background toMtanza-Msona Village, including descriptions of location, climate, land use, vegetation, soils, humanpopulation, livelihoods and resource management practices. Geo-reference data for major facilities and

landmarks in the village are presented at the end of this report (see Annex 8: Geo-reference data).

Location

Mtanza-Msona is situated in the western floodplain area of Rufiji District (Map 1), on one of the 13permanent lakes (Lake Mtanza) which are associated with the Rufiji, Tanzanias longest river. It is one of 98registered villages in the district, and shares boundaries with Kisarawe District to the north, the SelousGame Reserve to the south, Nyaminywili village to the east and Mibuyusaba village to the west (Hogan andMwambeso 2004). The village extends across a distance of more than 30 km from north to south, and 10km from east to west, with a total estimated area of between 550-600 km2.

Map 1: Location of Mtanza-Msona Village in Rufiji District

Rufiji District

From Hogan and Mwambeso 2004

Natural environment

Located at 7o 30 S to 8o 40 S and 39o 50 E to 39o 40 E along the east coast of Tanzania, Rufiji District hasa tropical climate with little monthly variation in day length or temperature. The north-easterly monsoonblows from November to March, while the stronger south-easterly monsoon blows from April to November.Seasonality is mainly determined by rainfall and associated flooding. The climate is tropical with the shortrains (Vuli) falling between mid-November and early January. This coincides with the hottest period.March, April and the first half of May form the long rains season (Masika). Floods occur from December

through April, varying in intensity and duration from year to year, but usually with a small flood peakhappening in December and the main floods taking place in April.

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Map 2: Mtanza-Msona vegetation and land use

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Mtanza-Msona Village contains a wide range of natural habitats, including forests, grasslands, bushlands,wetlands, sand dunes, farmland and areas of human settlement (Box 1). The vegetation, soil types andassociated land uses in Mtanza-Msona Village can be considered in two blocks (Map 2), bisected west toeast by the Rufiji River and the road that runs alongside it: the terrace (Mwinuko) and area to the north ofthe River, and the floodplain extending to the south of the Rufiji (Hogan and Mwambeso 2004). AlthoughMtanza Msonas village area is big, its population is relatively compactly settled in five sub-villages leaving alarge area of forest to the northwest (Hogan et al2000).

Box 1: Vegetation and land use classification for Mtanza-Msona Village

Area (ha) % of totalMixedvegetation

Bushed grassland 2690.5%

Bushed grassland seasonallyinundated

13,04922.4%

Bushland with scattered cultivation 394 0.7%Closed woodland 16,328 28.0%Open grassland seasonallyinundated

1,7603.0%

Open woodland 12,425 21.3%

Wooded grassland seasonallyinundated 354 0.6%Woodland with scattered cultivation 2,523 4.3%

Lowland forest Natural forest 135 0.2%Others Inland water 3,023 5.2%

Mixed cultivation 5,152 8.8%Sand dunes 2,282 3.9%Settlement 568 1.0%

Total 58,262 100.0%

From Malimbwi (2000)

Most of the land to the north of the river and road is covered in deciduous woodland with patches of mixedforest, which combines lowland coastal forest and miombo woodland (medium to low canopy woodlanddominated by trees of the closely related genera Brachystegia, Julbernardia and Isoberlinia). Thevegetation in this area also comprises bushland, grassland (tall and short grasses) and swamps. Thedensest woodland is adjacent to valleys and lakes, and in the riverine forest that line rivers and otherdrainage courses. Villagers distinguish sixteen different forest areas, including a large block of formally-gazetted Forest Reserve to the north of the river (including Zili-Zili, Nyamwidege and Tanda forests, andpart of Upper Msangazi and Dai Lake and Forest).

These forests formerly had a large stock of commercially-valuable timber species, includingMkongo ( Afzelia quanzensis), Mpingo (Dalbergia melanyxolon), Mpangapanga (Milletia struchmanii),and Mtondo (Julbernadia globiflora). However most of the harvestable stock of these species has beenremoved, and it is reported that there is no commercially harvestable timber remaining in the forests(Malimbwi 2000). The soils beneath the woodlands are primarily reddish-brown sandy loams (Msanga) of

moderate acidity and fertility. There are some cracked clay depressions (Mabawe) scattered throughoutthe north part of the village which support wooded grassland with Doum palm (Hyphenae compressa) andAcacia species. Small patches of farmland lie to the north of the river, outside the Forest Reserve.

Mtanza and Msona village centres are located on the north bank of the river, and a band of farmland andscattered settlement follows the rivers course along the floodplain the south. The strip by the rivercomprises of mixed woodland, mango (Mangifera indica) and cassia (Senna siamea) fallow. South of this isthe main cultivation area on the very fertile loams and fine sands (Mbawila), which are fed with richalluvium during the regular floods. The natural vegetation is Upanje (Hyparrhenia rufa) grasslandinterspersed with Msona (Acacia sieberana) trees. South again there are mixed woodlands, somedominated by Acacia spp. (including Mizigunga), stretching all the way to Kimbulu Depression and theSelous Game Reserve boundary.

Apart from the Rufiji, there is one other permanent river the Mtalula, which runs west to east along thesouthern floodplain. The Kihimbwa and Msangazi rivers (to the north of the Rufiji) flow for about threemonths of the year. Mtanza-Msona contains a large number of permanent lakes, including Mtanza,Nyakasewa, Magenge, Makoge, Mtandia, Magoga, Andemela, Kibuyu, Mshamu, Ngohe, Mzambarawe and

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Mwama.

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(c) IUCN/Yassin Mwkizu 2007 (c) IUCN/Lucy Emerton 2007

Photo 1: Wooded grassland Photo 2: Rufiji Floodplain

(c) IUCN/Gita Kasthala 2007 (c) IUCN/Gita Kasthala 2007

Photo 3: Rufiji River Photo 4: Lake Mkono

(c) IUCN/Gita Kasthala 2007 (c) IUCN/Gita Kasthala 2007

Photo 5: Lake Mtanza Photo 6: Lake Makoge

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Human environment

Mtanza-Msona Village has a total population of 1,830 people in 428 households, and administratively, iscomposed of four hamlets (sub-villages): Bizi, Msiga, Mtanza, and Mturuma. The largest tribe in this villageis Ndengereko (also known as Waruhingo). Others include Matumbi, Pogoro, Hehe, Ngindo and Zaramo.Although there are more or less equal numbers of women and men, the bulk of households are male-headed (75%).

Local livelihoods are based around crop farming. Most people of Mtanza Msona have a home in the officialcentre of the village north of the river Rufiji, but most of their time, especially their productive time, is spenton their farms, which are for the most part some distance away from the main village centre (Hogan et al2000). The main cultivation areas are located in the floodplain area south of the river. While cultivationremains mainly at the subsistence level, food trading is a common way of generating cash income. Riceand maize are staple crops, with at least two and sometimes three harvesting seasons (the main sowingseasons are late November and December, March, and June). The flood recession area is used for thesecond rice crop (sown in June), and other wetland areas (such as Mbaligani, to the north of the river) alsoprovide important rice cultivation areas due to their rich clay soils and good water retention capacity.

Other important food crops include cowpeas, green grams, pigeon peas, cassava and sweet potatoes.Fruits and vegetables, including pumpkin, banana, tomato, okra, cashew and watermelon provide a sourceof cash income, as well as food. In addition to growing crops, some households keep livestock. Althoughlarger animals (such as cattle and goats) are not common, due to the presence of tsetse flies, poultry arekept by many households.

Despite its importance, crop cultivation remains a risky occupation, and few households rely on farming asa sole source of livelihood. Other productive activities include petty trade, fishing and handicraft production.People are considered to be most secure in economic terms when they have other sources of income fromemployment and business. Wild foods (both plant and animal) provide an important source of nutrition, andincome earned from fishing and logging are used to generate cash to buy food when harvests fail. The mainenergy source in Mtanza-Msona is fuelwood, with charcoal also providing an important source of cashincome. The use of plant-based medicines is widespread, and trees and grasses are commonly utilised forhouse construction.

As described above, the main village centres of Mtanza and Msona are concentrated on the north bank ofthe Rufiji River. This is where most people have their permanent houses. Many villagers however alsomaintain and occupy a stilted house or shelter in the floodplain, known as Dungu. These seasonaldwellings are said to be located on the sites of the original villages of Mtanza-Msona, before theresettlement which took place as a result of Ujamaa or villagisation, in the late 1960s (Meroka 2006).

Environmental governance

The wetlands and associated resources found in Mtanza-Msona include formally-gazetted reserves,communal resources which are managed directly by local villagers, as well as trees and other habitatslocated on lands which are held and used privately. Line ministries (including the Forest Department andWildlife Division), local authorities (most notably the Village Council and Village Environment Committee),as well as informal groups (such as natural resource scouts, the environment choir, beekeeping group,herbal medicines, plant protection group and tree-growing group) and individuals all participate in managingthe natural resources in the village.

With the exception of parts of Msangazi River, Mkono, Tanda and Dai Lakes, which are located within theVillage Forest Reserve (see below), most of the wetland areas that are used for fishing have been utilisedand governed under traditional use and access rights. In the past this has translated into often complicatedarrangements which in practice have allowed open access to a wide range of fishers from both within andoutside the village (Hogan and Mwambeso 2004). An example is the perceived, and uncontested, right ofsome villagers from Nyaminwili to fish lakes within Mtanza Msonas villages southern reaches (Hogan et al2000). However increasing pressure on fisheries resources have resulted in a number of measures beingset in place to restrict access at certain times, or for certain groups. The new Village by-laws on theenvironment regulate fisheries (see below), and Lake Mtanza (a primary fishing ground) has a closedfishing season since 2000 (Richmond et al 2002). This form of collective action, decided upon by thevillagers themselves in response to the rapidly declining fish stocks in the lake, appears to have beenlargely successful (Richmond et al2002, Meroka 2006).

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The utilisation of wildlife resources is also intense, and carried out by both villagers and outsiders. Huntersfrom Kisarawe District and Dar es Salaam hunt in the northern part of the village, while tourist hunting iscarried out on the lands to the south of the village; these hunting activities are often carried out illegally,without obtaining licences or informing the Village Authorities (Meroka 2006).

IUCN/Yassin Mkwizu 2007

Photo 7: Mtanza-Msona Environmental Library

There are two main pieces of legislation that govern the regulation of land in Tanzania: the Land Act andVillage Land Act, both promulgated in 1999. The Village Land Act provides for the management of land invillages, and gives power to the Village Councils to own and manage land as a trustee, on behalf of thevillagers and others who reside in the village. In Mtanza-Msona, the local administration is responsible forallocating land for farming and other purposes. Cultivation is the main means of claiming user rights overland, which are held by the individual, household or the family. For an outsider to obtain use rights overland, they must apply to the local government. Land rights are vested in men - women are not seen aslandholders, and lose their traditional rights to land if they divorce.

The Village Council also plays an important role in forest management. The Forest Act of 2002 establishesfour categories of forests, including Village Forest Reserves, and provides room for local communities toformulate by-laws to regulate and govern forests in their jurisdictions. The villagers of Mtanza-Msona havemanaged to gazette an area of forest to the north of the Rufiji River as a Forest Reserve. This involvedreaching agreements with adjacent villages regarding the boundaries of the forests, and having forestsurveys undertaken by the Forest and Beekeeping Divisions survey department. In 2001 the WardDevelopment Committee submitted a detailed forest plan and application for gazettement, in July 2003 theDirector of Forestry made a public announcement of gazettement, and in November 2003 the village wasinformed by the Forest and Beekeping Division Legal Officer that, since there were no objections, this areacould be legally considered as a Village Forest Reserve.

At the end of 2003, the Mtanza-Msona Village Environment Committee sat for the first time, and

commenced drafting new rules for the uses of the different natural areas and resources found in the village.Some of these rules reflect existing national laws, and others were subsequently enacted as by-laws underthe Local Government Act (Village Governments) of 1982 under the title Laws for the Protection of theNative Forests and the Conservation of the Environment of Mtanza-Msona Village (see Annex 1: By-lawsto protect the natural forests and the environment of Mtanza-Msona Village). These laws becameoperational on 14th August 2003.

The Mtanza-Msona Village Environment Management Plan (VEMP) was prepared in 2000 by a villageplanning team which was appointed by the Village Assembly, approved by the Village Assembly, and isbeing implemented by the Village Government. The main objective of this plan is the protection andsustainable utilization of the natural resources and environment within the village boundaries. A villageforest reserve management plan (see Annex 2: Forest management plan for Mtanza-Msona North VillageForest Reserve), which is part of the VEMP, covers the woodlands and forests north of the Rufiji River.

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Photo 8: Environmental Management Plans for Mtanza-Msona, Jaja, Mbunju-Mvuleni and Twasalie

Villages, Rufiji District

Although the gazetted boundaries of the Selous Game Reserve lie outside Mtanza-Msona, the village abutsit to the south. The presence of this nearby Protected Area gives rise to some conflict over the ownershipand use of land and natural resources. Two issues of concern to Mtanza-Msona residents are the large

numbers of wild animals which come into the village (especially during the dry season) and causesignificant crop damage, and the perceived exclusion of the local community from opportunities to gain fromtourism in the Selous. There have also been a series of boundary conflicts with the Game Reserve(Malimbwi 2000). For example the line clearance by Selous Game Reserve which took place in 1997-98 isconsidered a serious land encroachment by the villagers of Mtanza Msona, and the ownership and controlof Lake Utunge is another unsolved issue (Hogan et al2000). As the gazettement of the Game Reservetook a large portion of land and fisheries grounds out of local use, it is argued that it resulted in aconsiderable increase in pressure of those natural resources which remained as village land (Meroka2006).

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Methodology: how the assessment was carried out

The principles of integrated wetland assessment

The field assessment followed the methodology detailed in the toolkit produced under this project (Darwall,W., Emerton, L., Allison, E., McIvor, A. and C. Bambaradeniya (2007), A Toolkit for Integrated WetlandAssessment), currently in draft format. In fact one of the aims of the Mtanza-Msona assessment was to fieldtest these methods and protocols.

The full background and approach to integrated wetland assessment is detailed in the draft toolkit (availablefrom http://iucn.org/themes/ssc/our_work/freshwater/darwin_iwa/index.html). It is founded on the premisethat an integrated approach to assessment is necessary in order to generate information that is practicallyuseful, and policy relevant, for wetland planning and management. As both wetland values and threatsencompass biological, ecological, economic and livelihood aspects, and wetland management responsesmust simultaneously address and react to each of these factors, a thorough understanding of all and ofthe interlinkages and interconnectivity between them is required. The main components of integratedwetland assessment are seen as species and habitat-based biodiversity assessment, economic valuation,and livelihoods analysis.

The toolkit describes a framework for assessment which consists of the following stages: Defining management objectives: recognising and balancing both conservation and development

goals, and promoting a pro-poor approach to wetland management, is a process that requires broadconsultation and awareness of a wide range of issues. Developing a shared vision and rooting theassessment in real-world management goals and objectives are both essential to give purpose to theassessment process, and to identify relevant management and policy-related questions for theassessment to tackle.

Conducting assessment: documenting the state of wetland biodiversity, identifying development andconservation pressures and threats, and understanding past, current and future management andpolicy responses requires the co-ordination of data collection, survey and review, across all relevantdisciplines and methods.

Carrying out analysis and presentation: analysing the data generated to address needs formanagement and policy information, to emphasise the interlinkages and connectivity betweenbiodiversity, economic and livelihood factors, and to ensure that information is presented in a practicaland policy-relevant form which is both appropriate and useful for planners and decision-makers inconservation and development sectors.

The guiding principles supporting the toolkit are therefore that wetland assessments should:

Be integrated across disciplines and themes;

Be geared to address a particularmanagement issue or question;

Generate information that can be used to support and improve the planning of on-the-ground wetland

management, and provide information to make better decisions about how to use and allocateinvestment funds, land and resources in and around wetlands;

Work to strengthen existing wetland management process;

Serve to sustain wetland values, with a particular focus on ensuring the continued generation andequitable access to wetland goods and services, particularly for poorer and more vulnerable humangroups.

The integrated assessment model, applied in the case of Mtanza-Msona, thus has the advantage thatexchange of ideas takes place at all stages from defining objectives, through carrying out fieldwork, to dataanalysis and presentation (Figure 1). Its disadvantages may include the time and difficulty it takes to planand conceptualise and the intellectual and professional demands it places on participants. This model helps

wetland conservation and development stakeholders to move away from a situation where they are makingdecisions on the basis of a series of biodiversity assessments, economic valuations and social developmentreports that have been carried out by different groups of people, who were commissioned separately byprogramme or project planners, did not consult one another, worked in different places and at different

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times to each other, using different methods, analytical tools and scales of working, and were each able toprovide only a part of the information required and who left gaps which had to be filled by informationderived from guesswork, inapplicable generalisations or vested interests.

Figure 1: The integrated approach to wetland assessment

DETAILED

PLANNING

RESEARCH

DATA PROCESSING

AND ANALYSIS

REPORT

Jointly Derived Research/Management Questions

FIELD SURVEY

INTEGRATED REPORT

Management Plan

INTEGRATED BIODIVERSITY, VALUATION AND LIVELIHOOD

INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT ADVICE

Integrated Management ObjectivesIntegrated Management Objectives

Economic

Valuation

Biodiversity

Survey

Livelihoods

Analysis

CONCEPTUAL

INTEGRATION

PRESENTATION

From Darwall et al2007

Applying an integrated methodology in Mtanza-Msona

Putting integrated assessment into practice presented many challenges; most people have technical skillsand experience in only part of the process. For integration to work, everyone needed to have an awarenessof the whole process. This involved expanding the boundaries of each persons own study area, feedinginto areas with which they were not familiar, and receiving input from researchers in other areas who maynot have understood the rationale or constraints of their own area. There were obvious overlaps betweenthe approaches already used in the three research areas of biodiversity, livelihoods and economics, and thechallenge here was to maximise the synergies between these approaches, while minimising the costs andcomplexities of carrying out assessments across such a broad range of expertise.

For the Mtanza-Msona study, a core field team of 4 people and a broader reference group of 12 peoplewere formed to plan and carry out the field survey, including biologists, ecologists, rural sociologists andeconomists. An initial planning meeting brought the integrated study team together with additional expertsfrom other research institutions and national/local government agencies (including from Rufiji District) inMay 2006. At this point, training was carried out in both the integrated assessment framework and inmethods for biodiversity, economics and livelihoods data collection. A series of steps, stages andmilestones were formulated to deliver on the study, with particular attention being given to mechanisms forincorporating stakeholder inputs and feedback, at both local and national levels, throughout the process(Figure 2). A short scoping mission to Mtanza-Msona ensured that the plan developed was practical in thefield context, and secured feedback from local stakeholders.

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Figure 2: Steps and stages in carrying out the study, including stakeholder feedback

Literature reviewLiterature review

Piloting of field methodologiesPiloting of field methodologies

Dry and wet season fieldworkDry and wet season fieldwork

Data analysisData analysis

Production of draft reportProduction of draft report National roundtableNational roundtable

Finalisation of technical reportFinalisation of technical report

Local dialogue meetingLocal dialogue meeting

Field scopingField scoping

TrainingTraining


National roundtableNational roundtable


Sep-Oct 2006Feb-Mar 07

Jan-Jun 08

Apr-Nov 07

Dec 07

Jul-Aug 2006

Initial planningInitial planning National dialogue meetingNational dialogue meetingMay 2006

Timeline Key steps in the study Stakeholder feedback loop

Continuous

local interaction

Continuous

local interaction

Between July and August 2006, a literature review was carried out of both published and grey literaturerelating to Mtanza-Msona, and the data collecti

Documents

IUCN_An Integrated Assessment of the Biodiversity, Livelihood and Economic Value of Wetlands in Mtanza-Msona Village_Tanzania