Gender relations in utilization and conservation of the Kilombero flood plains Ramsar site wetlands, Tanzania

Abstract

Gender relations refer to the gender dimensions of the social relations  structuring the lives of individual men and women, such as the gender division of labour and gender division of access to and control over resources. This leads to the differentiation of roles that a different gender  has to play in the society. The present study was conducted in the  Kilombero, Morogoro region to investigate gender relations in utilization  and conservation Kilombero wetland resources. Data were collected from six villages namely Mofu, Kivukoni, Idete, Chita, Melela and Mngeta. Household interviews and transect walks were the main approached used  for data collection. It was revealed that men, women, elders, and youth participated in various activities and the utilization of Kilombero wetland  resources. Amongst gender categories, 78.3% of the women, 52.2% of the men, 50% elders and 47.4% youth practiced crop farming. There were more men (62.2%) utilizing the wetland for income alone than those  utilizing the wetland for both income and food (37.8%). More women (41.7%) than men utilized the wetland for food alone. More men (64.4%) than women (63.9%) play an important role in conservation of wetlands  through educating others on sustainable utilization of wetland resources. Elders (43.3%) were reported to participate in wetland resources  conservation by advising youths on sustainable use of resources because they are aware of what is happening today compared to the past. Youth (42.8%) do the same because most of them are educated and are willing to adopt conservation measures. Land in wetlands was accessed by both males and females though total area cultivated by men was larger than  that by women. The wetlands of Kilombero are utilized by all gender for various economic activities though males and young people have the biggest share. This disparity in access to wetland resources can be  eliminated through more awareness on the gender dimensions of wetlands management.