Exploring watershed conservation and water governance along Pangani River Basin, Tanzania

•We analyzed methods for watershed conservation.•We identified water user associations and determined their water right.•We identified and examined gaps in watershed conservation and governance.•Riparian vegetation have multiple benefits as they enhance water flow.•Transparency and accountability is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Land use policy 2015-11, Vol.48, p.351-361
Main Authors: Lalika, Makarius C.S., Meire, Patrick, Ngaga, Yonika M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Associations
Catchment forest
Ecosystem services
Government and politics
Management
Questionnaires
Riparian vegetation
Rivers
Tanzania
Water
Water abstraction
Water association
Watersheds
Welfare economics
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Summary:•We analyzed methods for watershed conservation.•We identified water user associations and determined their water right.•We identified and examined gaps in watershed conservation and governance.•Riparian vegetation have multiple benefits as they enhance water flow.•Transparency and accountability is necessary for good governance. Water scarcity is among the contemporary problems of our time across the globe. The problem is worsened by policy failures to enforce water governance and watershed conservation. Consequently, it has curtailed the capacity of watersheds to release hydrological services, water in particular. We carried out this study to explore approaches for watershed conservation and investigate water governance challenges in Pangani River Basin, Tanzania. We collected data by using structured questionnaires and meetings with different actors in the study area. We found that retaining riparian vegetation is the appropriate strategy for watershed conservation and sustainable water flow. Water governance challenges include ineffective and uncoordinated water governing institutional structures; and untrustworthy financial management. We feel that building the capacity of water users association could bring about positive outcomes for both watershed conservation and water governance. We recommend that strategies and policies aimed at improving the flow of hydrological services should also focus on improving the welfare of the local communities, who are the primary beneficiaries of water from watersheds.
ISSN:0264-8377
1873-5754
DOI:10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.06.010