How USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili, NLUPC Eco-conscious register successes in Tanzania

DODOMA: THE USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili (Preserve Natural Resources) Project continues to illuminate a ray of hope in Tanzania’s environmental landscape, blending nature’s resilience with human dedication in a beautiful symphony.

Working closely with the Journalists’ Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET), this trans formative partnership has created a tapestry of accomplishments in sustainable conservation that sway to the beat of Mother Earth.

Amidst the lush emerald forests and golden savannas of Tanzania, a tale of rejuvenation unfolds as the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Project unveils its monumental milestones in environmental preservation and climate change mitigation.

Together with the passionate advocates at JET, these eco warriors have embarked on an awe-inspiring odyssey to safeguard Tanzania’s natural treasures for generations to come.

In a concerted effort to address the pressing issues threatening wildlife movement and biodiversity preservation in Tanzania, a significant Journalists Learning Visit took place in Dodoma as part of the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili (Preserve Natural Resources) project implemented by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI).

This initiative, spanning from 2021 to 2026, aims to bolster conservation efforts through strategic interventions that engage various sectors of society.

The project’s core objectives revolve around enhancing private sector involvement in conservation, building the capacity of government and civil society in natural resource management, and fortifying the policy and regulatory framework for conservation and natural resource utilisation.

One pivotal aspect of the project includes combating wildlife crime to safeguard the country’s rich biodiversity.

To support these goals, the project collaborated with the Journalists’ Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) to educate and empower journalists on biodiversity conservation and anti-wildlife crime measures, thereby amplifying their impact through accurate and informed media coverage.

During the recent Journalists Learning Visit, members of JET had the opportunity to engage with the National Land Use Planning Commission (NLUPC), where NLUPC Director General Joseph Mafuru underscored the importance of sustainable land management practices to mitigate Human Wildlife Conflicts (HWC) and maintain environmental harmony.

Mr Mafuru emphasised the need for comprehensive land use planning that involves all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and avoid conflicts arising from mismanagement of resources.

According to him, NLUPC’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and developing participatory land use plans aligns with their mandate to foster unity among conservationists, environmentalists, citizens and wildlife institutions in shaping sustainable solutions for land management.

“We, NLUPC, which is the Land Use Planning Commission, have one of our responsibilities to engage stakeholders in order to have a unified voice in environmental protection,” he said.

He added, “When you fully engage stakeholders (conservationists, environmentalists, citizens and wildlife institutions) to collectively plan, manage together, oversee together and carry out all processes together, it becomes much easier to implement them.”

By actively involving diverse voices in the planning process, NLUPC seeks to streamline conservation efforts and address critical issues such as land degradation and conflicts.

Mr Mafuru’s call for accelerated stakeholder engagement and collaborative planning reflects the urgency of the conservation challenges facing Tanzania.

With only a fraction of villages benefiting from comprehensive land use plans, NLUPC acknowledges the need to expedite the planning process to avert potential conflicts and delays in conservation initiatives.

Moreover, NLUPC’s allocation of substantial funds towards implementing these plans demonstrates a tangible commitment to prioritising sustainable land use practices and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration.

“We have planned for a few villages (around 3000 out of 13000) because we still have a lot of work to do,” he noted.

Further elaborating, he said NLUPC must strive to get sufficient stakeholders, as the government is initiating, but there must be various stakeholders with interests in conservation and wildlife in order to ensure we develop them adequately.

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“The more we delay in developing them, the more conflicts we create, and by the time we realise a certain area needs a proper land use plan, we might find ourselves behind schedule; reconciliations take even longer,” expressed Mr Mafuru.

By investing in inclusive planning processes and harnessing the collective expertise of various stake holders, NLUPC aims to pave the way for harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife while preserving Tanzania’s natural heritage for future generations.

The Journalists’ Learning Visit in Dodoma served as a catalyst for promoting awareness and understanding of the intricate connections between conservation, sustainable land management and stakeholder engagement.

Through collaborative efforts like these, Tanzania is poised to navigate the complexities of biodiversity conservation with resilience and foresight, charting a path towards a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with its natural resources.

For his part, NLUPC Director of Research and Land Use Compliance, Dr Joseph Paul, remarked that the government is on the right track regarding land planning and awareness raising among stakeholders so as to maintain peace and harmony.

He noted that, through NLUPC, it targets having sustainable land management systems that address issues of land degradation and conflicts in the country.

Further elaborating, he said that capacity building among stakeholders is pertinent as it is the main task.

This is done in order to manage sustainably scarce resources against increasing demand for them.

“The main task is awareness-raising and capacity building.

We liaise with the public and private sectors on land planning and conservation for daily activities in accordance with the National Land Use Framework at different scales—the zonal framework, district land use plan and village land planning—where we have in place a village land use management team,” said Dr Paul.

Detailing further, he said that it is because of sustainable land use plans vegetation and wild animals have tremendously increased in conserved areas, calling on villagers living near national parks and conserved areas to avoid blocking wildlife corridors.

Dr Paul noted that stakeholders should see the importance of conserving even more forests and engage in economic activities such as beekeeping.

He added that at village levels, there are detailed management plans.

Sustainable land use can be achieved through coordinated participation of all stakeholders in land resources management at all levels, such as national sectors (ministries, non-governmental organisations and companies), regions, districts and villages.

“Henceforth, there is immense need for the Commission as a central body to perform the roles of coordination, policy and law formulation and build capacity for land use planning at local levels,” he said.

Dr Paul expounded further that every district and town council should set aside budget for that activity, at least for six villages annually.

He added that if all stakeholders can be serious about that, the exercise will be successful.

However, he noted that there are challenges in that there are plans that are implemented by different sectors.

One of them is government splitting villages, wards and divisions after areas have been measured and land plans set.

“We have to invest in land use plan awareness— agriculture and livestock keeping—to avoid conflicts.

We should also know some success stories, such as conservation of water sources, and see the tangible outputs like in Southern Highlands villages,” he said.

As the echoes of this transformative visit reverberate across the conservation landscape, the ripple effects of informed journalism and collaborative partnerships are poised to shape a brighter future for Tanzania’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife populations.

In the vibrant mixture of colours that paint the Tanzanian horizon, the collaboration between the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Project and JET shines brightly as a testament to the transformative power of unity and dedication.

Together, they have sparked a shimmering cascade of positive change, illuminating the path towards a greener, more sustainable future for Tanzania and beyond.

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