STUDIES SAY, TANZANIA IS LOSING FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND OF FORESTS PER YEAR

Some of the participants following a stakeholders meeting with a debate about climate change and its impact on natural resource management in the country organized by Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in the Iringa Region recently. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

THE Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office Union Affairs and Environment Eng. Ngosi Mwihava said studies indicate that the country is currently losing approximately four hundred thousand of forests per year.

He made the statement during the opening session of debate on climate change and its impact on natural resource management in the country held in Iringa Region organized by LEAT recently.

Mwihava said in 2030 it is estimated that the country will lose approximately two million hectares (2.8 million) of natural forests, equivalent to the size of Rwanda. And this is equivalent to 8.5 percent country's forests according to 2009 figures.

Based on these statistics, it is an undeniable fact that the problem of climate change will continue to rob the country of the natural resources and thus endanger citizens in general.

Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in collaboration with community based organization (CBOs) through USAID support implemented the project in Iringa Region to foster advocacy for strengthening accountability and oversight of public resources through increased citizen’s participation.

The CBOs include Africa Soil Hives Technology (ASH-TECH), Mufindi Vijana kwa Maendeleo (MUVIMA), Matumizi Bora ya Malihai Idodi na Pawaga (MBOMIPA) and Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Kanda ya Kitapilimwa (MJUMIKK).

“I believe that you all agree with me that this magnitude of forest destruction is not only a threat to forests but also a threat to the security of other natural resources that depend on the presence of forests. Wildlife and other species in the forest depend largely on forest presence. Agricultural activities in forestry and wildlife areas continue to be carried out in many parts of the country and thus lead to unrelated conflicting disputes,” Mwihava said.

It is an undeniable fact that the problem of climate change has a wide range of effects including health, environmental, social and even economic impact.

Increasingly, floods, rain shortages, earthquakes, hurricanes, frosts are just some of the effects of climate change.

He said the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania supports the efforts to promote the participation of citizens in the management (CEGO-NRM), Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM) of natural resources in the country, sponsored by the United States Development Agency (USAID).

Mwihava said his office recognizes and believes that the understanding that citizens have gained through that project will enable them to actively participate in the management of the various resources of our country such as gas, oil, mining, rivers and water sources.

Acting Iringa Region commissioner Jamhuri William on behalf of the Iringa Regional Commissioner Amina Masenza, congratulated the project for citizens in management and natural resources (CEGO NRM) that are a leaven to strengthen natural resource management in the Iringa region as a whole.

He said that despite the success achieved through the project it is well remembered that these efforts should be maintained as new challenges in natural resource conservation continue to emerge daily.

On his part, LEAT Board of Director Chairman Gosebert Kamugisha said the project is being implemented in Iringa and Mufindi districts in Iringa region from November 2013 and will come to end in November 2017.

He said that the project is implemented in 12 wards (7 in Mufindi and 5 in Iringa districts) and 32 villages, 16 villages in each district.

Kamugisha said is aimed at empowering citizens of Iringa and Mufindi districts in Iringa region to actively engage in sustainable conservation of natural resources and environmental protection and improve accountability and oversight of public resources at the local level. By Friday Simbaya, Iringa

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