Resolving Loliondo Land Conflict

Materials Available

·         Report on options for land use and conflict resolution in Loliondo  (download report here )

·        

Policy Brief: Resolving the Loliondo Conflict  (download pdf English version  or pdf Swahili version )

 You Tube Video – “People have spoken: voices from Loliondo”

Policy Brief: “Resolving the Land Use Conflict in Loliondo”

TNRF, February 2011

Summary:

For years there has been conflict in Loliondo surrounding land and natural resource uses.  The conflict is complex, with many stakeholders involved, but the root of the problem is clear—land.  The drought of July 2009 brought conflict tensions to a head, resulting in burned homesteads, reported human rights abuses, 50,000 cattle displaced and considerable economic loss to local communities.  Since then more than 15 investigative missions have been carried out, yet there remains no change or progress.  What it will take to bring peace to the area is still up for debate.  This brief outlines key findings and policy recommendations that are essential to a fair, just and equitable resolution.  At the core of this, is communities’ interests and rights must be upheld, which in short means communities must maintain control over the land in Loliondo.  

 Report on options for land use and conflict resolution in Loliondo

Executive Summary:

For years there has been conflict in Loliondo surrounding land and natural resource uses.  The conflict is complex, with many stakeholders involved, and Loliondo’s location, bordering the Serengeti National Park and serving as prime grazing area for pastoralists in the region, makes it one of the most highly coveted land areas in Tanzania.

This report provides an overview of the conflict in Loliondo, reviewing historical information, current land uses and tenure arrangements.  The main land uses are photographic tourism, hunting tourism and livestock keeping, which all bring different economic benefits to the area.  According to Village Land Act No. 5 of 1999, all land in Loliondo Division is classified as Village Land.  However, there is spatial overlap of Village Lands and a Game Controlled Area (GCA), which since 1992 has been leased to the Ortello Business Corporation.  Prior to 2009, GCAs had no bearing on land use or management; however, the 2009 Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits farming and livestock grazing in GCA.  This new Act poses a huge problem to the communities that have been living and using the land in Loliondo for decades.

An economic summary of the different land uses provides a better understanding of the potential revenue that could be generated in Loliondo.  This summary informs the final section of the report, which evaluates the land tenure and land use options and the various implications associated with each.

Download entire report here.