Research institute representatives with Livestock and Fisheries Minister Bashiru Ally (center, seated) at the rangeland conference in Morogoro.

Tanzania’s rangeland society pushes for science-driven action to protect shrinking pastures

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  • Birikaa Olesikilal

Tanzania’s rangeland society pushes for science-driven action to protect shrinking pastures

According to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Tanzania’s cattle herd has grown from 9 to 40 million in just six decades yet the rangelands sustaining them have remained the same size. Measuring roughly 947,000 square kilometers, rangelands supply close to 90% of the country’s livestock feed.

At the same time, climate change, invasive plant species, and intensifying competition for land erode are steadily reducing the productivity of grazing areas. The pressure is already affecting livestock production systems, pastoral livelihoods, and access to grazing and water resources in many parts of the country. For example, in the droughts of 2021–2022 over 92,000 livestock (mainly cattle, sheep, and goats) died due to a lack of water and pasture in Simanjiro, a semi-arid pastoral district in northern Tanzania. Frequent droughts are affecting livestock production, and hence food security and livelihoods.

Without a strong base of applied research to guide how these lands are managed, governed, and restored, much needed improvements in productivity, trade, and livelihoods will remain out of reach. If rangelands are well-managed, biomass production will increase, which in turn will reduce animal feed insecurity.

This imperative was the basis of a workshop hosted by the Rangeland Society of Tanzania (RST) in Morogoro on 29–30 April 2026. Scientists, policymakers, development and pastoralists to discuss how research and evidence can better support sustainable rangeland management, strengthen livestock production, and guide implementation of Tanzania’s livestock development priorities.

With a membership of approximately 230 individuals, RST works with government institutions, research organizations, development partners, and pastoralists to promote sustainable rangeland management and strengthen livestock production systems. Workshop participants included representatives from the International Livestock Research Institute, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Ngorongoro Conservation Authority, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Livestock and fisheries minister Bashiru Ally emphasized the urgency of modernizing the sector to unlock greater trade opportunities locally and internationally. He identified six priority areas: strengthening leadership and management, improving animal nutrition, strengthening animal health services, increasing the impact of development projects, adopting of modern technologies and infrastructure, and attracting investment.

“My aspiration is to see this society become a guiding light, especially in the implementation of the 2025–2050 development strategy. We must strengthen discipline and accountability to improve the livestock sector, including improving livelihoods,” said Ally.

Land governance challenges

Research presentations on the second day focused on the major pressures affecting Tanzania’s rangelands, including land tenure insecurity and declining pasture quality. ILRI’s Rangeland Ecologist, Birikaa Olesikilal shared findings from the organization’s work on joint land use planning as a mechanism to secure land rights and resolve resource-based conflicts. He described how increasing pressure from expansion of cropping and increased human and livestock populations contributed to encroachment on grazing land in many areas.

Birikaa Olesikilal contributing to a dialogue during the rangeland conference in Morogoro. Photo by ILRI/Hadi Rashid

“Our experience shows that village land use planning must be participatory and inclusive. For it to be effective, it is important to select villages that share common interests and demonstrate commitment to jointly managing grazing resources such as land and water across administrative boundaries,” Olesikilal explained. 

For example, through joint village land use planning in Kiteto District, close to 82,400 ha have been legally issued to livestock keepers associations (pastoralists) through certificates of customary rights of occupancy. Pastoralist representatives at the workshop requested the government to continue supporting the allocation of the grazing lands and ensure the law is followed to avoid conversion of the grazing land to other uses.

Daniel Kitomai, a student from Sokoine University of Agriculture, presented evidence of decline in pasture quality driven by the spread of invasive plant species such as Astripomoea hyoscyamoides and Parthenium hysterophorus across grazing areas. Gabriel Bura from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, linked the problem to land ownership challenges and lack of accountability in communal grazing areas.

“We continue to encourage pastoralists and livestock keepers to take greater responsibility by investing in infrastructure, proper land use planning, and sustainable management of grazing lands,” Bura said. 

RST meeting resolutions 

At the end of the workshop, the following five action points were agreed on as part of a collective action plan:

  1. Establishment of a national rangelands supervision authority
  2. Adoption of joint village land use plans for landscape connectivity  
  3. Enhancement of policy flexibility in rangelands management
  4. Integrating science and indigenous knowledge in the control of invasive plant species 
  5. Lobbying the government to subsidize pasture seeds 

As RST marked its 21st anniversary, chairperson Ismail Selemani pushed for a shift in rangeland management, from conventional local practices toward science-based innovations. He called for stronger collaboration between research institutions, government agencies, and development agencies in mobilizing resources for public awareness and capacity building.

With pressure on Tanzania’s rangelands continuing to grow, participants repeatedly emphasized that research alone will not be enough. Translating evidence into policy, investment, and coordinated local action will be critical to protecting grazing systems that support millions of livestock keepers and contribute significantly to the country’s economy.

Related content: 

Pastoral communities in Tanzania celebrate securing of their communal grazing rights

ILRI is helping pastoralists and farmers in Tanzania’s Kiteto District develop land use strategies that enable both communities to reduce conflicts and improve natural resource management