Definition of common pool resource from Tanzania context

Common pool resources refer to natural or constructed system of resources, that are non-
excludable meaning that individuals or population typically can`t be prevented from using them,
even if they are not paying for them for example fisheries, Pastures, irrigation systems etc.
Tanzania is primarily a small producer country heavily dependent on natural resources, the most
important of which is land. Most of these resources are found in Villages.
Types of common pool resource in Tanzania
1. Minerals and marine resources;
Tanzania has been blessed with a tone number of mineral resources found within its land such as
gemstones, gold and diamond. But mostly known as for its unique type of mineral found only in
Tanzania known as Tanzanite.
Also Tanzania has long coast and inland waters with rich marine resources. Local fishing
communities have existed on fish resources but of recent, as the state has withdrawn, private
investors have established fairly large-scale fishing and fish processing operations
2. Pastoralism;
Pastoralism is also referred to livestock keeping, involves the form of animal husbandry where
domestic animals known as livestocks are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands for
grazing. Such animals include cattle, goats and sheep.
It is estimated that Tanzania has a total area of 44.2 million ha, approximately to 50 percent of
the land is the grazing lands category although most of this land cannot be inhabited as it has
been designated as protected area. Due population pressure agriculturists, have necessitated use
of even marginal grazing land for cultivation of their crops leading to conflicts
3. Forest resources;
The forest resources in Tanzania are found in rural areas where by local communities rely on
forests to supply their other needs such as building material, herbal medicines, wild fruits, bees
products, etc. Most important of all, forest is the main source of bioenergy for rural households
Tanzania has a total area of forest cover of about 33.5 hectares approximately 34 percent of the
total land area, where almost 12.5 million ha are reserved. The production forest area is almost
24 million ha while some 10 million ha are protected as water catchment areas. This forest
resources in Tanzania are expoited for both subsistence and market.
(I. shivji 2002).
4. Cultivation (farming);
This involves farming activities which the majority of rural population is involved in crop and
animal husbandry for subsistence and sale. Cultivation refers to the preparation and use of land
for growing plants or crops usually depending on the availability of arable land in order to get a
large amount of crops being produced at a specific area.
In Tanzania usually practiced in using hoe-technology and family labour, and depending mostly
in rain since irrigation is not highly developed this is according to I. Shivji
5. Wildlife resources;
Tanzania has a total area of grasslands and open woodlands in the northeast and northwest of
approximately 28 percent of the total area of the country, almost 25 million ha of this areas are
used for habitation of the wildlife animals.
Wildlife as a common pool resource is important to the livelihood as they are used for food,
Medicinal uses and other resources. But I Tanzania they are very important as they are used as
the tourism attraction which leads to the increase of the National GDP approximately 10.7
percent of the total national GDP (WTTC, 2020).
Management of common pool resource
A better way of managing the CPRs i.e. forest, minerals, farm lands, grazing lands and wildlife is
to regard the resource system as a complex CPR system that its management should not
concentrate in managing individual resources (such as forests, water for irrigation and grazing
lands) separately or demarcating small areas for administrative convenience, instead should
consider up-scaling it as a complex ecosystem that need a coordinated resource management in
all aspects.
Policy and decision makers at national level, district levels and village level should consider
putting a provision for managing such resources so as to avoid the mismatch between
administrative boundaries and resource systems that has been a source of conflicts,
mismanagement and degradation of the resource base.
In general, the entry point in the management of CPR should vary depending on the
circumstances of the local CPR setting and must be carefully selected on a case by case basis
instead of using uniform management strategies.
Challenges of facing common pool resources
I. Conversion of common property into private property and state property regimes, with
the consequence of disempowerment of those most dependent on the resources;
II. Unsustainable use of the resources through over utilization by the users of the commons
due to socio-economic changes, shifting power relations and rising individual self-
interest over collective interest mainly due to market forces which resulted into conflicts
over the utilization of resources;
III. Uncharitable use of the CPR by external users for commercial or subsistence purposes,
this is because they don’t have long term interest in the sustainability of the resources;
and
IV. Poor communication and coordination among resource users and regulators between the
upstream and downstream with the implication of running into the tragedy of the
commons use of resources.
Opportunities from common pool resources
i. Availability of water supply in households and water bodies for fishing activities
ii. Availability of arable land for agricultural practices
iii. Presence of a large amount of open area for grazing activity
iv. Availability of forest areas for different activities such building materials, herbal
medicines, wild fruits, bee’s products etc
Policy implications/ provision on the management of common pool resources
i. National livestock policy 2006 mission is to ensure that livestock resource is developed
and managed sustainably for economic growth and improved human livelihood.

ii. National Agricultural policy 2013 has a general objective of developing an efficient,
competitive, and profitable agricultural industry that contribute to the improvement of the
livelihoods of Tanzanians.
iii. Mining policy 2008 mission is to set policies, strategies and laws; regulating mineral
exploitation, production, trading, value addition and minerals actors for sustainable
development of mineral resources, and integrate with other sectors of the economy.
iv. Wildlife policy 1998 has a vision of promoting the conservation of biological diversity,
administer, regulate and develop wildlife resources by involving all stakeholders in
wildlife conservation and sustainable utilization.
v. National Environment Policy, 2004
vi. National Tourism Policy, 1999;
How to avoid the challenges facing common pool resources and utilizing the opportunities
when preparing Mangida village land use plan
In Mangida village the common pool resources includes minerals( stones and sand) , farm land
and water body ( a pond)
In order to avoid challenges facing common pool resources the following should be done
I. Enhancing proper utilization of the resource available by imposing some by laws that will
lead to sustainable use of the common resources
II. Good communication and coordination among resource users and regulators between the
upstream and downstream with the implication of running into the tragedy of the
commons use of resources.