The pastoral areas of Tanzania have been experiencing increasing land-use pressure and\ud
out-migration of pastoralists to other areas. In some areas the immigrant pastoralists have\ud
been involved in resource-use conflicts; raising concern at various levels of governance.\ud
However, the underlying causes of resource-use conflicts are yet to be established. This\ud
study was conducted in Mkata plains and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in order to\ud
determine the role of local institutions in the management of common grazing lands.\ud
Specifically the study aimed at determining trends in land-use and resource tenure; establish strength of local institutions; determine factors determining resource-use conflicts in the study areas. The study indicated that the pastoral system in the study areas was shifting to agro-pastoralism, leading to high grazing intensities and rangeland deterioration. Local institutions were strong and plays central role in the management of communal grazing lands. Factors which significantly (p < 0.05) enhance local institutions include market integration, degradation of rangelands and local leadership. Livestock ownership and local\ud
autonomy are significant in Ngorongoro area; whereas, wealth differentiation significantly\ud
(p < 0.05) undermine local institutions in the study areas. Resource-use conflict in Mkata\ud
plains is mainly over crop damages by livestock. Conflicts in Ngorongoro area involve\ud
conservation authorities and local communities over expansion of cultivation. Factors\ud
significantly (p<0.05) escalating conflicts are wealthy heterogeneity and restrictive policies\ud
in Ngorongoro; and increasing herd size and commercialization in Mkata plains. Strong\ud
local leadership significantly (p<0.05) minimise conflicts in study areas, while livestock\ud
ownership and range deterioration minimises conflicts in Ngorongoro area Local\ud
mechanisms for resolving resource-use conflicts include “conflict resolution committees” in\ud
Mkata plains; and benefit sharing between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority\ud
and local communities The study proposes a cross-linkage institutional framework for management of communal grazing lands. The main conclusion of this study is that local\ud
institutions have persisted and plays a central role in governance of common grazing lands.\ud
It is recommended to establish secure tenure ship of grazing lands for different pastoral\ud
groups and establishing of sustainable carrying capacities and grazing systems in study\ud
areas.\u