Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses

As the pressure on the water resources mounts within a river basin, institutional innovation may occur not as a result of a planned sequence of adjustments, but arising out of the interplay of several factors. By focusing on the basin trajectory this paper illustrates the importance of understanding...

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Main Authors: Komakech, H.C., van Koppen, Barbara, Mahoo, H.F., Zaag, P. van der
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40435
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author Komakech, H.C.
van Koppen, Barbara
Mahoo, H.F.
Zaag, P. van der
author_browse Komakech, H.C.
Mahoo, H.F.
Zaag, P. van der
van Koppen, Barbara
author_facet Komakech, H.C.
van Koppen, Barbara
Mahoo, H.F.
Zaag, P. van der
author_sort Komakech, H.C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description As the pressure on the water resources mounts within a river basin, institutional innovation may occur not as a result of a planned sequence of adjustments, but arising out of the interplay of several factors. By focusing on the basin trajectory this paper illustrates the importance of understanding how local level institutional arrangements interface with national-level policies and basin-wide institutions. We expand Molle's typology of basin actors responses by explicitly introducing ameso-layer which depicts the interface where State-level and local-level initiatives and responses are played out; and focus on how this interaction finds expression in the creation and modification of hydraulic property rights. We subsequently apply this perspective to the case of Pangani River Basin in Tanzania. The Pangani River Basin development trajectory did not follow a linear path and sequence of responses. Attempts by the state government to establish 'order' in the basin by issuing water rights, levying water fees and designing a new basin institutional set-up have so far proven problematic, and instead generated 'noise' at the interface. So a water resources development in the Pangani has primarily focused on blue water, and the paper shows how investments in infrastructure to control blue water have shaped the relationship between water users, and between water user groups and the State. It remains unknown, however, what the implications will be of wide spread investments in improved green water use throughout the basin-not only hydrologically for the availability of blue water, but also socially for the livelihoods of the basin population, and for the evolving relationships between green and blue water users, and between them and the State. The paper concludes with a question: will green water development engender a similar double-edged material-symbolic dynamic as blue water development has. The findings of this paper demonstrate that the expanded typology of basin actors responses helps to better understand the present situation. Such an improved understanding is useful in analysing current and proposed interventions.
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spelling CGSpace404352025-06-17T08:24:24Z Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses Komakech, H.C. van Koppen, Barbara Mahoo, H.F. Zaag, P. van der river basin development river basin management institutions water rights water policy water users participatory management As the pressure on the water resources mounts within a river basin, institutional innovation may occur not as a result of a planned sequence of adjustments, but arising out of the interplay of several factors. By focusing on the basin trajectory this paper illustrates the importance of understanding how local level institutional arrangements interface with national-level policies and basin-wide institutions. We expand Molle's typology of basin actors responses by explicitly introducing ameso-layer which depicts the interface where State-level and local-level initiatives and responses are played out; and focus on how this interaction finds expression in the creation and modification of hydraulic property rights. We subsequently apply this perspective to the case of Pangani River Basin in Tanzania. The Pangani River Basin development trajectory did not follow a linear path and sequence of responses. Attempts by the state government to establish 'order' in the basin by issuing water rights, levying water fees and designing a new basin institutional set-up have so far proven problematic, and instead generated 'noise' at the interface. So a water resources development in the Pangani has primarily focused on blue water, and the paper shows how investments in infrastructure to control blue water have shaped the relationship between water users, and between water user groups and the State. It remains unknown, however, what the implications will be of wide spread investments in improved green water use throughout the basin-not only hydrologically for the availability of blue water, but also socially for the livelihoods of the basin population, and for the evolving relationships between green and blue water users, and between them and the State. The paper concludes with a question: will green water development engender a similar double-edged material-symbolic dynamic as blue water development has. The findings of this paper demonstrate that the expanded typology of basin actors responses helps to better understand the present situation. Such an improved understanding is useful in analysing current and proposed interventions. 2011-09 2014-06-13T14:47:40Z 2014-06-13T14:47:40Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40435 en Limited Access Elsevier Komakech, H.; van Koppen, Barbara; Mahoo, H.; van der Zaag, P. 2011. Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses. Agricultural Water Management, 98(11): 1740-1751. (Special issue on "Smallholder systems innovations for integrated watershed management in Sub-Saharan Africa" with contributions by IWMI authors). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2010.06.011
spellingShingle river basin development
river basin management
institutions
water rights
water policy
water users
participatory management
Komakech, H.C.
van Koppen, Barbara
Mahoo, H.F.
Zaag, P. van der
Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses
title Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses
title_full Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses
title_fullStr Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses
title_full_unstemmed Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses
title_short Pangani river basin over time and space: on the interface of local and basin level responses
title_sort pangani river basin over time and space on the interface of local and basin level responses
topic river basin development
river basin management
institutions
water rights
water policy
water users
participatory management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40435
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