Climate change is affecting pastoral communities in a way that they are forced to destroy the environment and severe range lands degradation. In some cases, Pastoralists are forced to enter the forest reserves during dry seasons to search for pasture and water. This tendency has negatively affected the environment and conservation initiatives. Despite of high livestock population, these areas are semi-arid districts characterized by severe drought affecting livestock productivity. Heavy grazing pressure and the effect of climate change have an adverse effect on rangeland health. Apart from drought, invasive plant species have been a major problem in grazing areas. During the past few months, the areas has been experiencing the loss of a large number of livestock. All of these increase the demand for use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the planting of high-yielding fodder grasses in the rangeland to address the current threats of deterioration of natural resources and animals.
The Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences (DAARS) in collaboration with the Community Research and Development Services (CORDS) and Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) launched a project that is aiming improving rangeland through the production of forage and livestock fattening practices in two traditional Maasai pastoralist districts of Longido and Monduli in Arusha region at Northern Highland of Tanzania. The project is funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through Global Environment Facility (GEF) small grants programme.
From Left: Prof. Ismail Selemani Head of Range Management Section in DAARS, (SUA), Faustine Zacharia Director TNRF, Lilian Looloitai Executive Director CORDS, Dr. Stephen Nindi Managing Director at National Land Use Planning Commission and far right is Prof. Anthony Sangeda Head DAARS (SUA)
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