The Maasai pastoralists of Tanzania are expressing concerns over carbon credit projects, perceiving them as a new form of land dispossession. Initiatives like the Longido and Monduli Rangelands Carbon Project compel communities to change traditional grazing practices, threatening their cultural identity. The Maasai demand informed consent and highlight the opaque nature of contracts. The Tanzanian government continues to advocate for carbon trading amidst these controversies.
The Maasai pastoralists of Tanzania have expressed significant concern regarding ongoing carbon credit projects, which they perceive as a new form of land dispossession. The Maasai International Solidarity Alliance has asserted that these initiatives push the community off their ancestral lands via complex financial contracts. MISA official Ndia Marikoi stated, “We are not against conservation, but these projects must be built on informed consent, not deception.”
Many Maasai, like 68-year-old Lepilal Ole Saitoti, are caught amid a transition from traditional pastoralism to a model where their land is commodified through carbon trading. Two notable projects, the Longido and Monduli Rangelands Carbon Project and the Resilient Tarangire Ecosystem Project, require local Maasai communities to change their grazing practices for carbon credit revenue. This unsettling shift threatens their cultural identity and economic survival.
Under these projects, communities are pressured into signing contracts that obscure the implications of their decisions. Agreements span up to 40 years and impose unfamiliar restrictions, inhibiting traditional pastoral practices. As described by villager Naramat Kilepo, promises made by sponsors were vague, neglecting to clarify what was relinquished in exchange for financial incentives.
The complexity of the agreements, often written in a legalistic language, raises concerns over the lack of transparency and informed consent. Investigation by MISA revealed that many elders, mainly proficient only in the Maa language, were excluded from discussions, contravening the required Free, Prior, and Informed Consent processes.
MISA is advocating for a moratorium on new carbon projects, emphasizing the need for local communities to fully comprehend the contracts being presented to them. Moreover, MISA’s legal review concluded that control shifts to project administrators once contracts are signed, limiting the rights and recourse available to the Maasai communities involved.
The underlying tension surrounding carbon credit projects evokes historical grievances over land appropriation faced by the Maasai, who have already lost vast areas to parks and wildlife reserves. Current carbon initiatives impose rigid grazing structures that contradict centuries-old mobility practices essential for pastoral survival. This disruption threatens to increase vulnerability during drought periods, as cattle losses could jeopardize the community’s socio-economic fabric.
Critics assert that proponents of carbon projects prioritize environmental objectives over the rights of Indigenous peoples, echoing colonial conservation approaches. The Maasai, as conveyed by activist Timan Tina, view the land as integral to their identity and livelihood. As she remarked, “Without it, we cannot raise livestock or secure our future. This is a threat to our very existence.”
Despite these concerns, the Tanzanian government remains focused on expanding carbon trading initiatives. Vice President Philip Mpango recently called for enhanced transparency and educational outreach regarding carbon trading to mitigate distrust. However, the ongoing negotiations seem to disregard the rights and voices of the affected Maasai communities, who fear further alienation from their ancestral lands.
In conclusion, the Maasai communities of Tanzania are facing a critical challenge as carbon credit projects threaten their traditional land rights and way of life. Concerns regarding the opacity of contracts, exclusion from decision-making, and the implications of forced agreements highlight the risks these initiatives pose. As the Tanzanian government pushes forward with carbon trading, it is essential to ensure that Indigenous voices are included in discussions to safeguard their rights and maintain their cultural heritage.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
