Feature: Conservation efforts bear fruits in central Tanzanian forests

A spirited effort by the Tanzanian government and other stakeholders has started bearing fruits after the restoration of the once desolate Isabe and Salanga forest reserves in the central part of the east African nation.

Located in the Tanzania's central district of Kondoa, the two forest reserves were on the verge of destruction is now full of life as the forest has regenerated and the rivers now flow freely.

The two reserves are among of the important sources of water for people living in Kondoa District Council in Dodoma Region.

Some of the water flows directly into streams and rivers that go straight into the northern Tanzania's Tarangire National Park and other sanctuaries.

Mohamed Khatibu, a resident of Masawi village says forest cover has resumed in the two forest reserves. "Forest officials didn't use guns to force to get into conservation, but they just use a simple approach which is participatory forest management (PFM) initiative.

Forest officers achieved this following the support from Tanzanian government, local and international forest stakeholders under participatory forest management (PFM), Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)+ Climate Change Initiatives (ECOPRC) Project through Tanzania Community Forest Network (TCFN).

"This is what led us to realize this successful story we're witnessing today. Forest experts have managed to actively engage us (local communities) into the conserving the forest reserves. This involved a number of things including training," says Khatibu.

He adds: "And our involvement in conserving the forest resources has started bearing fruits. People in this area are trained on other income generating activities, which has reduced pressure to the forests.

"People are now engaging in various activities, which are friendly to the environment such as making interlocking bricks, beekeeping, charcoal saving stoves as among the new interventions that contributed to the replenishing of our forests."

According to the villager, there is more money in beekeeping industry than in making charcoal, so people have resorted into projects which are friendly to the environment.

He, however, lauds stakeholders in forest conservation for their tireless efforts to change people's mindsets, which in turn reduced deforestation by 70 percent at Masawi village.

As a result of the intervention, Khatibu says Kondoa is now experiencing more rains because people have stopped cutting down trees.

Daniel Lucas, a field officer with Tanzania Community Forest Conservation Network (TCFCN) says there are more villagers who are earning money from tree nurseries business, a new venture introduced in the area to make ends meet as well as save the forest from extinction.

Emmanuel Kasisi, forestry officer, Kondoa District Council says that the restoration of the forest is a result of a number of interventions, including engaging local communities in PFM.

"They have been engaging in income-generating activities, which makes them aware that forest is beneficial, hence volunteers themselves in taming deforestation," he says.

He adds: "People are well-informed on the dangers of reckless tree felling...they are now aware that when they conserve forests they will be addressing climate change."

"This project has helped to change people's mindsets on forest conservation, as well as making them perceive forests as their resources. This is what led towards replenishing the two forest reserves."

The story doesn't end here, Kasisi reveals that villagers in Masawi village have formulated by-laws which don't allow anyone to cut trees for charcoal, firewood, and timber because in the reserves they now hand beehives for beekeeping venture.

"Local villagers are now carrying out regular patrols on the forest reserves to protect encroachers who invade the forests for charcoal making, agricultural activities, and other activities," he stresses.

Instead, the official says, villagers are now engaged in something that brings bread to their tables. "And this link is what was missing in the previous interventions. People in the areas which are close to forests are now busy with their socio-economic activities, which reduce pressure on forest products."

The new development came at the time when statistics show that the current deforestation rate in Tanzania is approaching 373,000 hectares per year, making it among the highest in East Africa. Endit