Introduction Support Visit of the LCSR Project

Overview

Fiona Flintan, Senior Scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), has been supporting KINNAPA and its work on joint village land use planning and participatory rangeland management for over a decade. In February 2024, Ms. Flintan joined the project team on a visit to Chalinze District Council offices and Bagamoyo District in Coast Region — the active project area — to reintroduce the initiative, support smooth implementation of activities, and strategise on the way forward.

These activities, aimed at developing, improving, and scaling joint village land use planning, are supported by ILRI through the CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate. They are having tangible impacts on the lives of local communities and stakeholders in improving planning, governance, and management of grazing lands.

Field Activities

The visit began with a field tour of Chalinze District, where Ms. Flintan explored critical areas where the project has been implemented. The project aims to improve resilience through sustainable land use practices and environmental management, ensuring local communities benefit from joint village land use planning and enhanced climate resilience.

Ms. Flintan also accompanied the Kiteto District Commissioner to the joint village land use planning ALOLLE Cluster, where shared grazing lands have been protected and demarcated. The team reviewed ongoing activities — particularly bush thinning, a critical initiative aimed at reducing environmental degradation, increasing rangeland productivity, and testing rangeland restoration methods at scale.

Timeline of Engagement

• Early 2023

  Government Stakeholder Meetings

  Ms. Flintan met with officials from the National Land Use Planning Commission and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to introduce the Livestock and Climate Initiative. Discussions centred on securing joint land tenure for livestock keepers, issuing CCROs, mitigating land use conflicts, and integrating climate resilience strategies into planning frameworks.
• Late 2023

  Commitment to National Guidelines

  ILRI committed to supporting the NLUPC in finalising national guidelines on joint village land use planning and to organising a national planning stakeholders' meeting in early 2024 — laying the groundwork for the April 2024 Dodoma workshop.
• February 2024

  Introduction Support Visit — Coast Region

  The LCSR team visited Chalinze and Bagamoyo Districts to assess on-the-ground progress, reinforce government and community ownership over the planning processes, and review field activities including the ALOLLE Cluster's grazing land protection and bush thinning programme.

Partners

This work reflects a strong multi-stakeholder partnership committed to sustainable livestock systems and community resilience in the face of climate change.

With a clear implementation plan and strong partnerships in place, this project marks an important milestone in promoting sustainable livestock systems and addressing climate challenges across Tanzania's pastoral communities — with lasting benefits for people and landscapes alike.