Rehabilitation and Restoration Of Degraded Forests (PDF) - IUCN

Chapter 8: Case studies
1994). In other cases on-farm hedgerows may have a considerable
diversity of indigenous species (Backes 2001). These forms of reforestation
undoubtedly reduced pressure on the remaining natural forests,
which were therefore able to contribute ecological services.
Main lesson: Reforestation can occur in areas with high rural population densities,
provided farmers have security of tenure.
8.12 Reintroduction of traditional agricultural practices in Tanzania
The Sukuma people are pastoralists living in the semi-arid Shinyanga
region of northwest Tanzania. The region has 600-800 mm annual
rainfall, although it varies greatly from year to year. This part of
Tanzania is occupied by forests and miombo woodlands; high population
densities (up to 42 persons per sq. km) exert significant pressure
on land resources. Many farmers or communities have traditional
enclosures (known as ngitili) reserved for dry-season grazing and
browsing (Ed Barrow, pers. comm.). This encourages vegetation to
regenerate and provides browse and fodder later in the dry season
when they are scarce. Despite the enclosures, however, much of the
original woodland in the region has been lost because of overgrazing
and firewood harvesting. Tree clearance accelerated between 1920 and
1940 when forests in the region were cleared to eradicate tsetse fly.
This practice continued until the early 1980s and established a basis
for much agricultural expansion, including cash crops such as cotton
and tobacco.
Traditionally, ngitili were located near home compounds and fodder
collected from them was used to support calves, old animals and oxen,
which could not follow the rest of the herd. Ownership, management
and tenure rights of ngitilis were governed by customary law. The
practice was widespread; at independence in 1961, almost every family
in the region had a ngitili.
The system broke down when the Ujamaa (Villagisation) Act was
introduced in 1975. The act relocated farmers from traditional villages
to newly created settlements. Their main household assets, including
houses, farms and ngitilis, were abandoned. This concentration of large
numbers of people and livestock in small areas increased the pressure
on farm and grazing lands. While the new village structure was easier
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