2.4 Local Government Reforms and Environmental Management: Review of the Decentralization Process and it's Impact on Environmental and Natural Resources Management in Tanzania

Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT)
leat@mediapost.co.tz

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REVIEW OF THE DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS AND IT'S IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN TANZANIA

Introduction

Abbreviations

Legislation

PART I: Conceptual Framework and Rationale for Decentralization

	1.1 Conceptual Framework
	1.2 Background to the Environmental Problems Facing in Tanzania
	1.3 Major Environmental Problems in Tanzania

PART II: Tanzania's Experience with Decentralization: a Chronology of Events

	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 Decentralization Process (1972-1982)
	2.3 Decentralization Process (1983-1998)
	2.4 Local Government Reforms and Environmental Management

PART III: The Policy Reforms and Environmental Management in Tanzania

	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 National Forestry Policy
	3.3 National Environmental Policy
	3.5 National Land Policy

PART IV: Environmental Legislation Management by Local Government Authorities in Tanzania

	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 An Overview of Local Government Authorities
	4.3 District Local Government Authorities
	4.4 Urban Local Government Authorities

PART V: Factors Hindering Effective Management of the Environment by Local Governement Authorities

	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Lack of Property Rights Over Natural Resources
	5.3 Weak Formulation and Implementation of Bylaws
	5.4 Poor Enforcement of Environmental Laws
	5.5 Weak Penalties and Incentives

PART VI: Practical Implications to Decentralize Environmental Management Structures

	6.1 Existing Interfaces and Linkages between Local Government Structures
	6.2 Capacity of Local Governments In Environmental Management

PART VII: Conclusions and Recommendations

	7.1 Conclusions
	7.2 Recommendations

References

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2.3 Local Government Reforms and Environmental Management

Besides the public sector and local government reforms stressing the need to decentralize, several other macro -policy documents published in recent years have also reiterated this new thinking in government. Several government policies published between 1995 and 1998 and the amendments made on the Local Government Acts have emphasized the need for local communities to participate in the environmental management.

To attain sustainable development, Tanzania needs to balance its accelerated economic growth with efficient management of the environment, coupled with sustainable use of natural resources (Liviga, 1999:11). Currently, however, the central government lacks the ability to manage the natural resources. Therefore, the central government needs to devolve power to local authorities to attain sustainable development.

Because of the complex interactions between different environmental management institutions, the responsibility for managing the environment cannot be a province of a single department or ministry within government. Multiple actors at both the central and local levels must act together to form new cooperation and partnerships. This will ensure a more systematic approach towards conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources.

The Local Government Reform Programme, stresses the need to devolve the framework for environmental management. Therefore, the local communities level of participation and authority to deal with environmental issues must be increased. This can only be achieved by devolving the powers from the central government to the local government. This must also be coupled with the creation of an enabling environment for them to exercise those powers.

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