RCE Greater Pwani - 2018

EVALUATION OF THE LAND USE CHANGES AND LAND TENURE SYSTEMS USING STDM TECHNIQUES ON TAITA HILLS FOREST ECOLOGICAL REGION IN TAITA TAVETA COUNTY
Basic Information
Title of project : 
EVALUATION OF THE LAND USE CHANGES AND LAND TENURE SYSTEMS USING STDM TECHNIQUES ON TAITA HILLS FOREST ECOLOGICAL REGION IN TAITA TAVETA COUNTY
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Pwani
Contributing organization(s) : 
Pwani University
Network for Sustainable Development and Action on Climate Change (NESDACC)
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Hamisi Tsama Mkuzi
Organizational Affiliation: 
Pwani University
E-mail: 
htmkuzi@gmail.com
Format of project: 
PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Web link: 
http://biodiversitynetworkkenya.wordpress.com/
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Climate Action -2030 climate and energy framework (2014)
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Energy Policy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Research cooperation: Horizon 2020
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Kenya
Location(s): 
Kilifi County
Address of focal point institution for project: 
P.O BOX 195-80108 KILIFI
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Dryland, Forest, Fresh water, Grassland, Urban/Peri-urban, Wetlands
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed., TVET, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Taita Hills forest forms the most northern part of the Eastern Arc Mountains and they are included in the 34 global biodiversity ‘hotspots’. Taita Hills consist of crystalline ridges and peaks that have been isolated for a long time, this contributing to the present high degree of endemism that include plants, vertebrates and invertebrates taxa. The forests in Taita Hills are also ranked as one of Important Bird areas (IBA) in Kenya. The indigenous mountain rainforests in the hills represent the fragmented relics of some primitive and formerly widespread forest flora and fauna not recognizable elsewhere in Africa today.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Like in most part of Kenya, poverty is remains among the greatest challenges in the project area. This is in part linked to land use changes and land security issues (linked to climate change). Similarly, poverty rates are also linked to hunger challenges and the project is seeking to promote sustainable agriculture and consumption by ensuring tenure security.

The tools being applied such as the STDM is user friendly and can be used to a larger percentage to help make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable for the people especially in the developing countries.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
February, 2017 to October, 2018
Rationale: 
Land use changes and land tenure systems, together with their drivers pose effects on Taita Hills forest ecological region. Land is the center piece of human life development and forms the cornerstone of economic activates. Access and right to land improves household food security, encourages resource conservation. Secure land tenure reduces conflict between communities, neighbors and families, allowing people to refocus time and financial resources into more productive activities. Today, pressure on world land and natural resources is increasing globally. This growing population places extreme pressure on world’s natural resources and as demand for land, resources and food continues, competition grows and the potential for conflict increases. Global climate change, is projected to cause sea levels to rise, displacing populations and intensifying human migration. When individuals are displaced due to climate change or conflict, they become extremely vulnerable to poverty, hunger and conflict. Displaced populations are often forced to migrate into lands or territories that are already occupied, further increasing the potential for conflict. These various factors work together to exert tremendous pressure on the world’s available land and natural resources.
Objectives: 
1. To identify the land use changes and land tenure security systems in communities of Taita Hills forest ecological region.
2. To determine the drivers of land use changes and land tenure systems to the communities of Taita Hills forest ecological region.
3. To determine the impact of land tenure systems on land use changes in Taita Hills ecological region.
4. To evaluate the impacts of land use changes and land tenure systems on the ecology of Taita Hills forest.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
- Meeting briefs with local administration leaders.
- Conducting interviews.
- Conducting household surveys using questionnaires.
- Mapping of land parcels to quantify land security issues.
Size of academic audience: 
Over 1000
Results: 
A high percentage of the interviewees lived below international poverty lines. With the possible influence of a non-representative age distribution, this result, however, cannot be regarded generally valid for the study region. Agriculture is the most important source of livelihood in the study area as well as on a national level, with maize as the dominant food crop. The identified parcel sizes ranges from around 0.9 to 9 ha and therefore represent typical sizes for small-scale farms in the country. Land tenure security was generally high, but access to land was restricted, especially for women, and many interviewees are not aware of the legal situation. So far, a total of 103 informal STDM-documents have been created out of mapped and collected data.
Lessons learned: 
People are less aware of their land security status. Most people are deliberately ignorant about securing their land parcels with the right documentation because they find the process to be so expensive. The SDTM approach is simple and easy to use. Over 80% of the respondents or rather the communities so far engaged appreciate the application of the STDM technique in solving land security issues at the community level.
Key messages: 
Land is a very limited resource for human development. Many people in the developing world are invisible to the laws and systems for land resource rights and security of tenure. The conventional approaches for land registration are very good but also exceptionally expensive for most people in developing countries.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The project covers a wider area and involves four learning institutions; three in Kenya and one from Germany. The work being done is objectively aimed to add to the body of knowledge and to contribute towards community empowerment. Most SDGs are addressed by this kind of project –something which the RCEs in Kenya are focusing on.
Funding: 
DAAD

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Hamisi_Nadine 2017.jpg (200.8 KB) Application of the STDM P. Charo
Image icon Mapping using STDM techniques.png (856.5 KB) Mapped parcels of land using the STDM techniques H. Mkuzi
Image icon STDM output document.png (683.62 KB) Final document after application of STDM H. Mkuzi
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Direct
Curriculum Development 
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No