Inappropriate policies and ineffective natural resources management by-laws are a major setback in achieving sustainable natural resource management (NRM) in the highlands of eastern Africa. This has led to declining agro-ecosystem productivity, food security and rural incomes as well as increasing health hazards resulting from deteriorating environmental health. In this paper the community participation in the process of bylaws formulation, implementation and enforcement of agro-based natural resources by-laws were studied in three eastern African countries (Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia) to establish major reasons for their ineffectiveness and identify opportunities that can reverse this trend The study is based on the hypothesis that successful NRM is strongly dependent on the presence of active by-laws at the community level and strong support of relevant district level institutions of governance to local level institutions in their enforcement. Secondary data, case studies, key informants interviews and series of workshops involving different stakeholders were conducted to understand the relevant NRM policies and the process of by-laws formulation and factors affecting their implementation and enforcement. Results shows that lack of pro-poor NRM policies, inadequate participation of farmers and civil society organizations in by-laws formulation and enforcement, poor coordination between different sectors at district level, limited awareness on the part of the local communities on processes of by-laws enforcement and outdated by-laws are some of the major reasons for poor NRM in the eastern African Highlands. Where awareness on the processes of by law enforcement was raised and collaboration between policy makers and law enforcers enhanced, cases of abuse of natural resources went down by 67 %. The paper proposes some strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of NRM by-laws in the region for improved and sustainable agro-ecosystem productivity and livelihoods.
Tahun publikasi
2009
Penulis
Mowo G J; Lyamchai C J; Place F; Masuki K F G; Admasu Z; Chemangei A
Bahasa
English
Geografis
Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania
