Trade-offs Between Extractive Industry and Biodiversity Conservation in East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Abstract

In April 2003, the East Usambara Mountains ecosystem in northern Tanzania was invaded by small scale individual illegal miners extracting gold, and this posed enormous threats to this high biodiversity in the area. The government therefore started evicting these miners. Using the trade-off approach this article examines the issues involved in evicting these miners and it further highlights the socio- economic and governance factors at play and their influence at local, national and global scales. Results show that the major challenge is absence of a process mechanism for good and equitable decision making and that this is not made any better by the unequal and varied values and valuation methods. The article concludes by recommending, among other things, empowering the local communities and decision makers by providing them with relevant information pertaining to the issue before a decision is made and to dramatically improve participatory processes for all the concerned persons