Refugees and Tanzania’s environments: a case of Ngara district, 1960s – 1990s

The main concern of this study was to examine the effects of refugees on the environments of Tanzania focusing on land, vegetation cover, water bodies, wildlife, air, health and sanitation. The study used Ngara District as a case study. It sought, first of all, to understand the environmental situation in Ngara before the inflow of refugees, and secondly to examine, albeit roughly, the history of refugee settlement in Ngara. The push and pull factors leading to the inflow were investigated. In order to achieve its goal, the study collected relevant information from written and oral sources and analyzed it according to the research questions and pertinent issues. Based on available evidence, the study came up with a number of conclusions. First it emphasizes that the people of Ngara were knowledgeable in environmental control and management methods before the influx of refugees. Local beliefs and knowledge influenced the relationship between the people and their environments, particularly with regard to proper utilization of resources. Secondly, it has been established that the movement of refugees into Ngara was a result largely of ethnic conflicts which took place in Burundi and Rwanda in the period between the 1960s and the 1990s. The colonial system and poor governance of the post colonial administration sustained and accelerated the conditions leading to divisions and conflicts in the two countries, which eventually resulted in massive migration of people to Ngara and other places in Tanzania. Thirdly, the study established that the presence of refugees in Ngara led to notable environmental degradation. Vegetation cover, water bodies, wildlife, air, health and sanitation were negatively affected. Overpopulation of refugee settlements and the resultant overexploitation of resources were found to be the main factor for environmental degradation. Lastly, the study identified some positive environmental consequences resulting from the presence of refugees in Ngara. While serving the refugees, the Government of Tanzania and other agents introduced the people of Ngara to appropriate environmental management methods and sustainable agricultural practices. This aimed at allaying the negative environmental consequences of settling refugees in the area, but also had long lasting positive environmental effects.