Conservation efforts pay off handsomely in Lindi

LINDI Region has registered success in conserving the environment, with Mchakama village in Kilwa District getting 47m/- from 2016 by selling forest products from trees the villagers planted.

Mchakama Conservation Secretary, Mr Ahmad Lyambe said at Kilwa Masoko recently that they are conserving a forest that measures more than 5,000 hectares and are looking forward to start carbon trade.

Mr Lyambe, who was speaking to journalists on a tour organised by Journalists Environment of Tanzania (JET) and sponsored by the World Wide Fund (WWF), said that the forest was initiated by 17 members and its proceeds are shared with the village as well as the District.

He said that the money is used for different projects, such as renovation of school and health centre buildings, as well as procuring and setting up a solar power meant for cooking at a village primary school.

The secretary noted that their committee has been able to stop forest encroachment by conducting patrols throughout the year. In the areas bordering the forest, villagers conduct organic agriculture in crops such as millet and maize.

He unveiled that they have been successful to stop villagers in conducting shifting agriculture, a habit that was common in the past. He attributed the accomplishment to support from WWF and Mpingo Conservation and Development Initiative (MCDI). Mr Lyambe noted that in tree planting exercise, turn up is high and is appreciated.

Landscape restoration has been one of the priority programmes at WWF Tanzania. Implemented mostly in the Southern part of the country and in the remnants of the East Africa Coastal Forest in Vikindu, Pugu and Kazimzumbwi, the initiative, has supported the government through Tanzania Forest Services agency (TFS) in undertaking its commitment to restore 5.2 million hectares of deforested and degraded forests in the AFR100 initiative.

WWF Country Director, Dr Amani Ngusaru noted prior to the tour that for success of the initiative and restoration efforts WWF understands that the collective actions cannot be ignored and that at this point in time, it is one among the key approaches that bring different stakeholders with the same goal together for the benefit of nature and people.

WWF’s Senior Officer, Ms Joan Itanisa congratulated the village leadership and the conservation committee for a job well done, calling on them to carry on the project so that are assured of rain and enough water for daily domestic use as well as in agriculture.