Ngitili is an indigenous in situ natural resource management system practised by the Su - kuma people, an agro-pastoral ethnic group from northwestern Tanzania, for enhanced woodland and pasture regeneration. The practice mainly involves protecting vegetation during the rainy season for grazing in the dry season. The system existed as early as the 1920s although was partly halted by colonial era tsetse eradication campaigns, and further discouraged by the 1974/75 ‘Villagization’ policy of massive rural resettlement. Revival of Ngitili vegetation conservation to reverse degradation was pioneered by the Shinyanga Regional Soil Conservation (HASHI) programme in 1986 through long-term support from the Norwegian government (NORAD) and the Tanzanian Ministry of Natu - ral Resources and Tourism in collaboration with the seven District Councils across the region. HASHI phased out in 2004 and has been replaced by NAFRAC (Natural Forest Resources and Agroforestry Centre). An estimated total of 500,000 ha (350,000 ha of natural regeneration and 150,000 ha of agroforestry interventions) was rehabilitated during the 18-year period.
Publication year
2014
Authors
Rubanza C; Gama, B.; Kimaro, A.A.
Language
English
Keywords
drylands, environmental management, trees, livelihoods,
Geographic
Tanzania
