Ministry calls on communities to conserve nature

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Government has encouraged communities to participate in conservation activities and to engage in environmentally friendly income-generating activities such as beekeeping for sustainable livelihoods.

Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Mr Hamad Chande offered the advice in Dodoma yesterday when responding to Nkasi South lawmaker Moses Kagele, who wanted to know the government’s plan to allocate additional land from the Lwafi Reserve to residents for agricultural activities.

In his question, the MP suggested more land should be allocated to residents living in five villages, namely Kasapa, Kingombe, Mlambo, Kala, and Ng’undwe, for agricultural use.

Responding, the Deputy Minister said at present the Government sees no need to further reduce the reserve due to its ecological and social importance.

According to Mr Chande, the reserve is a key source of water for the Loasi and Nsalamba rivers.

He told the National Assembly that the Loasi Forest Reserve was established under Government Notice No. 346 of October 25, 1957, covering an area of 33,468 hectares.

The forest is surrounded by four villages: King’ombe, Mlambo, Kilambo cha Mkorechi, and Mpasa.

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“These villages were found to have encroached into parts of the reserve for various socioeconomic activities. As a result, the Cabinet, through an eight ministerial sectoral committee, directed the Government to use part of the reserve to resolve the conflicts,” he said.

Consequently, the Deputy Minister added, in 2023, the Government implemented the directive by allocating 10,834 hectares (equivalent to 27,050 acres) from the reserve to the villages based on their needs.

“Government sees no need to further reduce the reserve due to its ecological and social importance. The reserve is a key source of water for the Loasi and Nsalamba rivers,” he insisted.

He added that the area is important as it also conserves flora and fauna, contributes to climate change mitigation, and helps prevent human-wildlife conflicts.

The Deputy Minister added that water flowing from the reserve feeds into the famous Kalambo Falls, which promotes tourism and supports the local economy in the area.