Resource-Based Conficts And

RESOURCE-BASED CONFICTS AND

LAND-USE SYSTEMS

By

Dr. BABIKER AHMED EL HASSAN

A Paper presented to the National Plan foir Environmental Management Conference held at Friendship Hall/Khartoum

18-20 July 2006 Sponsored by Ministry of Env. and Physical

Management, Higher Council for Env. and Natural Resources.

Contents

Details / Page
1. General Introduction / 1
2. Conflicts / 4
3. Land-Use System / 8
a) Conceptual Framework of Land Use / 11
b) Management Proposals and
Recommendations. / 13

1. General Introduction :

Different ecosystems and socio-economic setups have made the lands of Sudan suitable for different uses. Environmental conditions, sand movements, denudation, overuse, and lack of conservation and management measures have collectively caused serious deterioration in land capabilities and in the associated natural resources. The expansion in planned and unplanned mechanized agriculture has also exhausted the soils and created conflicts between land users. Many lands became uncultivable and this in turn has caused socio-economic and ecological complications. This is manifested in decline of productivity, deterioration of natural resource base, concentration of activities in more fertile lands, negligence of low productive areas and socio-economic disparities among sectors and individuals. Rural people became less involved in the national economy.

The balance between land capabilities and tenure practices has disappeared as a result of increase in human and animal population, increase in demand for food and cash products,

changes in economic and cultural norms. This is not restricted

to Sudan alone but it alsoprevails in the African savanna belt. Arid and marginal lands face the difficulty of being classified into distinct units of use like forests, rangelands, mechanized or traditional agricultural areas. When all these factors are added to the fluctuation in rainfall and lack of management practices, the ecosystem is bound to become fragile and unsupportive to livelihood. Such a situation is conducive to nourishing resource-based conflicts negatively affecting the stability of the currently adopted land use systems.

2.Conflicts :

- Conflicts do not only cause loss of lives and properties but also deter stability and development.

- It destroys peaceful co-existence between tribes or social groups.

- The rural nature of the economy, social structure and cultures is a fertile soil for triggering controversial issues between neighbours and land users.

- Unbalanced development and drought repercussions cause pressures on land and resources.

-Rural communities consider access to land and its resources as a right and privilege that solidifies their own existence – it is a centralissue.

- Land issues have never been addressed in their societal and institutional prespective.

- El-Tayeb (2006) considers that "elimination of conflicts and sustainability of social peace requires : land tenure reform, sustainability of natural resources, elimination of poverty, good governance and respects of human rights…."

- Land related legislations and institutions are currently not addressing the mitigation of conflicts and all the laws which are not in harmony with the recent development need to be repealed.

- Demands for cultivable land, grazing, forestry, wildlife and urban development are a potential source for conflict creation.

Causes of Conflicts (Egemi, Eid, Zain and others)

a)Non-resource confl

b)

c)icts might result from :-

i)Some nomads may choose to settle in areas owned by other tribes who claim absolute right of tenure and ownership (e.g. Ma'alia and Rizigat, - Zagawa-Rizigat, Dinka and Missiria)

ii)Political or ethnic differences (Dinka-Firteety)

iii)Government or political parties may favour some tribe leaders against others who eventually become deprived of post and powers.

iv)Migration from other neighbouring countries.

v)Politicization of the native administration.

vi)Many other reasons including the recent Decentralization Acts.

d)Since the themes of the workshop focus on Resource-based conflicts the following are just examples of the causes behind them :

i)Conflicts between pastoralists and farmers (Arab and Fur)

ii) Conflicts over land use and ownership (Ma'alia and Rizigat).

iii)Conflicts over resource utilization (Dinka and Rizigat in Bahr El-Arab basin in the area between Southern Darfur and Western Bahr El-Ghazal).

iv)Stock routes trespassing farmers' plantations.

v)Maraheel crossing each other as in the case of Um-Bararo(West-East) and Sudanese herders (North-South).

Conflicts have been reported for most recent periods of Sudan history, but there has been a continuous increase in their number. Ali (2006) reported over 45 conflicting groups in the state of Darfur alone. Many conflicts have been documented by Eid (2000) Zein (2001) giving statistics on people killed/wounded, loss of property and livestock. These mainly cover West and Southern Sudan.

1. Land –Use System :

-Traditional land tenure in the rural areas of Sudan is mainly based on the concept of customary tribal homelands. Even in the northern riverian regions land has become a commodity only during the 18th. century. The Funj and Fur Sultanates empowered the ruler to grant land rights to administrators and reputed religious figures.

-The Turco-Egyptian government consolidated this system.

-The Mahdiya changed the tribal leadership and put it in the hands of army leaders. It has also encouraged population movement and tribal interwoven relations.

-The colonial government issued in 1899 the "Titles to Land Ordinance" and registration as private property started for continuously cultivated lands in north and central Sudan. This excluded the rain-lands and all lands in Southern Sudan.

-Areas classified as government-owned was divided into : "Subject to NO RIGHT and "Subject to CUSTOMARY RIGHTS".

-As a guarantee for having the power to withdraw the customary rights the government issued the following legislations (Egem, 2006) :-

1.1903 Land Acqision Ordinance.

2. 1905 Land Settlement Ordinance.

3. The Native Disposition of Lands Restrictions Ordinance..

4. The 1920 Declaration on the Gash.

5 The 1927 GeziraLand Ordinance.

6. The 1925 Land Settlement and Registration Ordinance.

7. The 1930 Land Acquision Ordinance.

(For general features of Customary Tenure, see

Egemi – 2006, Page 34).

-Land tenure Legislation after independence is similar to that of the colonial era and is even more REPRESSIVE if we consider Article 4(1) of the 1970 Legislation which entitled The Government to use force..

-1991-1993 Amendments strengthened this detrimental legislation :

{NO Court of law is competent to receive a

Complaint that goes against the interestof the

State}!

-Encouragement of horizontal expansion of the agricultural sector became evident (2 million feddans in 1970 became 17 millions in 2001).

-Egemi (2006) summarizes the repercussions :

• Institutionalization of poverty.
• Intensification of conflicts.
• Ethnic/tribal polarization.
• Erosion of peaceful co-existence.
• Reinforced feeling of marginalization.

(Example: Land rights and social resistance in the NubaMountains).

In spite of these rules and regulations Sudan has many distinct land-use systems which broadly included small scale rainfed and irrigated farms large scale farming in both sub-sectors, rangelands, forestry, wildlife, tourism and urban development. If we consider these systems by states or tribes we can site :

-The Fur Agricultural System

-The Baggara Pastoral Production System.

etc..

a)Conceptual Framework of Land Use :

1)The traditional fragmented surveys, map drawing and report writing do not help the policy-makers and planners to draw proper strategies and programmes for proper land use planning.

2)Questions raised by national level planners and land users should be addressed seriously.

3)Limitations have to be classified by type, sixe and measres required for overcoming their negative effects.

4)Goals, laws and regulations should be compatible with societal norms and interests, and alternative uses should consider socio-economic and environmental factors.

5)An efficient Monitoring and Evaluation system should be developed and applied properly

6)The fragmentation of powers over land tenure should receive appropriate restructuring.

7)Planned and unplanned mechanized farming systems need to be reviewed and revised.

8)Relationships and conflicting interests of traditional farmers, herders and mechanized scheme owners should be seriously studied, analyzed and resolved.

9)The management, development and improvements of the Rangelands should receive high priority in the national plan and budget.

10)Human demands and aspirations are increasing in quantity and quality as a result of the rising awareness and population increase.

b)Management Proposals and Recommendations :

F.A.O. (1993)

A + The unwise land use practices covering clearance of forest cover, over-grazing, exhaustive agricultural use together with lack of responsible planning necessitate:

* The rational use of land type.

* Conservation and Management of the Limited and finite

Resources in fragile eco-systems.

* Adoption of sustainable production systems.

* Systematic Assessment of physical, social, and economic

Factors.

* Assess present and future needs.

* Identify roots of conflicts between :-

a) Competing uses.

b) needs of individuals and those of community.

c) needs of present and future generations.

* Choose options that meet identified needs.

* Consider desired changes and account for them.

* Plan for meeting The Goals of land use :

Efficiency - Equity/Acceptability - Sustainability

B + People's Needs Derive The Planning Process :

* Compensate use of natural assets by development of

Human or physical assets of equal worth.

* Involve community in planning (avoiding conflicts).

* Transfer knowledge and technologies :

Agronomy – Silviculture – Livestock husbandry etc..

* Do not base decisions only on suitability but consider

demand for products.

* Seek concensus or at least informed disagreement.

* Regulations have to be publicly accepted.

C + Land Use Planning should not be totally SECTORAL.

* Integrate whenever possible.

* Plan at National, Regional, local levels.

Have strategies, policies and operational planning

to achieve goals and objectives.

D + The Planning Process : (FAO, 1993) – Ten steps.

1) Establish Goals and Terms of Reference {Area,

Problems, Goals).

2)Organize the work (Specify jobs, personnel, and schedule)

3)Analyze the problems (environmental, economic, social)

4) Identify opportunities for change (drainage, varieties, the

Species, fertilizer)

5) Evaluate land suitability (Maps, tables, text for physical

Suitability for each land use type).

6) Appraise the alternatives : Environmental, economic, and

Social analysis (Consequences of alternative options for

Change in use)

7) Choose the best option (give reasons for the choice).

8) Prepare the land use pan (

9) Implement the Plan (Methodology, Requirements,

Training, extension, research timing + budget).

11)Monitor and Revise the plan .

Adapt these Guidelines to make the best of the local situation.

E + Assess the likely Environmental. Impact to a specific

land-use system :

Examples of Environmental effects:

-Soil and water resources.

-Quality of wildlife habitat.

-Range and Forest Resources.

-Scenic and Recreational value (Tourism)

-Consider unplanned building of dams.

Polices must take account of land suitability , current

economic situation, obtainable production in relation to future needs.

Examples of Social Impacts :

-Population (size, distribution . age migration…)

-Basic needs (Food security, basic subsistence versus cash.

cash cropping.

-Employment and Income opportunities.

-Land Tenure and customary rights.

-Legislations.

-Stability of community.

Remember :

1. A change in land use requires investment (roads, storage,

Processing, etc…) and Services (marketing, credit, veterinary)

1. The political will and the ability to put the plan into effect

are essential for goal achievement.

Thank you

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