Eco-Schools project conserves natural forests in three Tanzanian regions

MOROGORO: TANZANIA has begun running a crucial initiative known as the Eco-Schools program in Morogoro, Iringa, and Tanga regions, whereby students and communities practice active citizenship and climate-resilient livelihood.

This unique and transformative program is being implemented by Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) with funding from the Danish Outdoor Council (DOC).

It is an international programme that encourages young people to engage with their environment by allowing them the opportunity to actively protect it.

Speaking to the Daily News Digital today, TFCG Eco-Schools Program Officer Ms Leah Molel says the initiative is registering tangible results in schools where it is implemented.

“Many positive impacts are being recorded through this program to the extent that other well-known international organizations are requesting to come on board to enhance its efficiency.

“Currently, we are implementing the Eco-Schools program in Mtwara and Lindi regions with funds from SWISSAID, backed by technical support from the TFCG.

“Also, a similar project is underway in the Korogwe District, Tanga, where ten Primary Schools are benefiting,” she says.

She adds: “Through these initiatives, we are incorporating measures to tackle climate change effects, making it very practicable among students as they take a front role in ensuring that it becomes a success.

“In environmental conservation, we focus on improving the school’s environment by planting trees as well as establishing vegetable gardens so that learners can spend more time in the classroom rather than sweeping the surrounding area, like they do in many schools.

“Another activity we undertake through – Eco-Schools program is Micro Project, which in one way or the other supports the school feeding program being initiated by the government,” she says.

According to her, they are also engaging in teacher training programs and through this, they encourage teachers to integrate climate change information in their lesson plan purposely to raise awareness of environmental conservation so as to escape impacts of climate change.

“All these are deliberately being done to impart environment conservation skills to students while they are still young…this will enable them to grow with such key principles of conserving the environment,” she says.

“We also form student parliament groups whereby learners spare specific time and date to share ideas on crucial issues like environmental conservation, education, and gender based violence…they do this in a parliament format involving questions and answers,” she says.

Asked if they have plans to engage all Tanzanian schools in – Schools project, she says currently, funds are insufficient to achieve that, though they are aiming to cover the whole nation in the near future.

TFCG’s mission is to reduce poverty in rural communities and to conserve the biodiversity of globally important forests in Tanzania for the benefit of the present and future generations.

On the other hand, TFCG vision is to envisage a world in which Tanzanians and the rest of humanity are enjoying diverse benefits from well‑conserved high biodiversity forests in Tanzania.

Eco-Schools’ objective encourages students and communities to practice active citizenship and climate-