PHOTO: cutting of trees and even selling of charcoal could be reduced wit alternative sources of energy
By Elias Mhegera
WITHOUT a sense of ownership of land people in Tanzania, people will continue to destroy forests through falling of trees and setting bush fires for various reasons.
This was almost the common point that experts in natural resources converged in when discussing why there were many occurrences of environmental degradation in Tanzania.
The debate that was organized by Policy Forum at the British Council on Friday last week, discussed the title: “How do we confront the challenges in the politics of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation?.
The first presentation was from Charles Meshack, the Executive Director of the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, who presented ‘An analysis of the National REDD Strategy Development and Key design concepts for consideration.
Another paper was presented by Prof Pius Yanda from the Secretariat, National REDD Task Force, whose presentation was; ‘An overview of the newly released first draft of the national REDD Strategy’.
The discussant of the topic was Cassian Sianga, who is the Senior Forest Program Office, at the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum.
Another key figure who registered his presence in the occasion was Dr. Felician Kilahama Director of Forestry and Beekeeping in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Meshack says that the local communities must be fully integrated in the program in order to welcome this opportunity not for the sake of protecting the environment only, but also for generating incomes.
He hints that if community members are empowered in knowledge they can strengthen their control of land, through proper planning and proper forest management.
He also acknowledge that the national REDD policies will have to take into consideration the fact that almost all unreserved forests are on village land and that village land rights will have to be taken into serious consideration.
Moreover he notes that in order for the project to succeed there must be an involvement of the community groups, civil societies and the private sector.
As for professor Yanda he emphasizes that in order for this project to succeed there must be a lot of consultations amongst the stakeholders. He points that the people’s representatives like members of parliament and councilors must put their hand to support the project.
He highlights that another group to be consulted should be the directors of public institutions. He did not underestimate the role of the civil society and indigenous people particularly women who are the ones who cut trees for firewood.
Other components that he thinks should be involved are the legal and institutional framework review in the context of REDD intervention. He also insists that there must be proper mechanisms to manage information and communication.
Prof Yanda calls for shared information between key stakeholders vertically and horizontally. These are technical groups, government representatives and the media.
As for the technical working group he suggests that they must take into consideration the legal framework and governance strategies. He also calls for monitoring, reporting and verification of such reports.
Moreover he emphasizes that financial mechanisms, energy drivers, and agricultural drivers must also be taken into consideration.
Dr Kilahama is of the opinion that alternative sources of energy must be earmarked when planning to strike the balance between the production of trees and their consumption.
He admits that people in the rural setting cannot appreciate any process to preserve trees and they can not even grasp any substance from the experts who do not suggest to them alternative sources of energy.
Dr Kilahama who is former lecturer in forestry at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) says that just as the urban dwellers take every commercial opportunity in their setting in order to survive the same happens with the villagers when it comes to land and forest utility.
Dr George Jambiya from the University of Dar es Salaam who is also now attached to the Tanzania
Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) says that protection of forests should start with modifications of the existing land laws, policies and distribution regulations.
He also suggests that people must be made aware of other sources of energy like biogas, solar energy and wind energy.
“REDD is just an opportunity for sharing of the costs and benefits accrued from land, this must entail protection of such resources like land and forestry but at the same time without denying people their source of income” he remarked.
In 2007, Norway launched an International Climate and Forest Initiative (ICFI), an effort to invest approximately US $500 annually towards REDD efforts at national and international levels.
In 2008, Norway selected Tanzania to be a part of its global initiative serving as a pilot country for REDD development and implementation.
The Tanzania Forest Conservation Group and MJUMITA was the first approved REDD pilot project by the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Since then six more projects have been approved and are in the process of implementing REDD.
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