Strategies to Enhance Adherence to Participatory Village Land use Plans in Ulanga District in Tanzania

Abstract

Land use plans have been considered as a solution to land use problems. Effectiveness of implementation of land use plan relies on a number of factors including strategies that are used to enhance adherence to the land use plan. For the study area, current and potential strategies to enhance adherence to land use plans had previously not been assessed. Thus this study assessed current and potential strategies used to enhance adherence to participatory village land use plans in Ulanga District, Tanzania. Data were collected through household survey of 120 respondents from two villages, key informants interviews, focus group discussions, field observation, review of guidelines for land use planning, village and use plans, district land use framework, books and journals. Information from household survey and village records were descriptively analysed to obtain frequencies and percentages. Information from key informants and focus groups was analysed by content analysis. Current strategies used included by-laws, boundary demarcation, zoning, community action plan, and conflict resolution. The current strategies were ineffectively implemented and enforced due to inadequate awareness, inadequate fines and penalties, funding limitations, weak governance and inefficient coordination and monitoring. Potential strategies that should be implemented include education, awareness raising, capacity building and benefit sharing.