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Profile photo of Ronny Berndtsson

Ronny Berndtsson

Professor, Dep Director, MECW Dep Scientific Coordinator

Profile photo of Ronny Berndtsson

Indigenous Knowledge in Watershed Management : The Case of the Mara River Basin, Tanzania

Author

  • Happyness Ngonyani
  • Bello Gambo
  • Khaldoon A. Mourad
  • Tasi’u Yalwa Rilwanu
  • Ronny Berndtsson

Summary, in English

Achieving sustainable water resource utilization requires a holistic management approach that recognizes the knowledge and values of different stakeholders through a comprehensive participation approach. This study evaluates the indigenous knowledge and technologies employed in watershed management by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from six villages in the Mara River Basin area. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and household surveys. The findings show that although participants work in tandem with scientific knowledge, indigenous knowledge and technologies continue to be important in watershed management, and that indigenous groups are cognizant of the effects of climate change, with 76.6% of respondents noting a decrease in rainfall and 78.0% observing changes in the rainy season. The integration of scientific knowledge with indigenous knowledge yields significant benefits for watershed management, and it is evident that indigenous communities possess a wealth of knowledge. The results show that involving indigenous communities in watershed management will benefit both water managers and indigenous populations. This engagement can build trust and a sense of ownership, which will lead to sustainable natural resource management.

Department/s

  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)
  • Division of Water Resources Engineering
  • LTH Profile Area: Water

Publishing year

2025-01

Language

English

Publication/Series

Water (Switzerland)

Volume

17

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

MDPI AG

Topic

  • Oceanography, Hydrology and Water Resources

Keywords

  • indigenous communities
  • stakeholder engagement
  • sustainable natural resource management

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2073-4441