East Usambara Catchment Forest Project - Work Plan 1999/2000

Introduction

General status of the programme

Implementation of the activities during Phase II (1995-1998) has been successful. Phase III was designed for 4 (four) years starting from 1999. However, the Phase III was late to start due to unavoidable reasons including delayed to signing of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Finland and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania . Because of this factor the project was run into bridging phase until when the agreement was signed on 7th May, 1999.

Activities implemented during the bridging Phase.

Forms for the application to upgrade the East Usambara Conservation Area Programme into Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) were obtained from NEMC and processes of filling the forms to be sent to the NEMC for further action has started The prepared draft rules and orders to establish the ANR conservation fund were sent to Chief Parliamentary Draftsman (CPC) for further action.

Forest patrol were conducted in the working area to protect and control forest destruction. Through forest patrols 206 PCs of timber were confiscated, 8 culprits were caught and reported to the police and the charges were raised against them. To control forest encroachment 54 ha. of crops were slashed in forest reserves. Border length of 54l km was maintained through slashing and clearing and also total border length of 95 km was maintained through border tree planting and tree weeding. Total number of 51,885 tree seedlings were raised in the central tree nurseries and tended. Seedlings raised were mainly for forest border planting and enrichment planting of the following sp. Tectona grandis, Senna siamea, Cedrella odorata, Newtonia buchananii, Cephalophaera usambarensis, Beilchimedia kweo, Isoleelinia schefferi and Engle rodedron usambarensis.

Local communities were involved in the forest protection and management. Collaboration was made with villagers particularly in guarding the forest against fire and in joint forest patrol. Preparation of Joint Forest Management Plan with villagers surrounding Kwamarimba Forest Reserve was finalised and sent to FBD for approval. Follow-up was made to gazette six proposed forest reserves. During March 1999, two Central government forest reserves namely Mgambo, Semdoe and one village forest reserve (Mpanga) were gazetted.

Twelve farmers from Kwagunda Potwe and Ubiri villages from southern part of the project area visited farmers of the Bamba, Vuga and Hemsambia in the northern part to exchange knowledge and to share experience on conservation issues. Meeting was conducted in Mgambo village to facilitate the gazettement of Handei village forest reserve. Collaboration was done with FBD Video Crew to conduct film/video shows for awareness raising in the project area. The project distributed a total of 41.85 kg of seeds in 10 pilot villages and some 55,424 tree seedlings of various species were raised and planted in farmers land during the long rains (March - June 1999).

Collection of meteorological and climatological data continued for monitoring the climatological changes. The library publications catalogue exercise was completed. The remaining task is to orient the staff on how to use the catalogue. Biodiversity survey work continued at ANR. Follow-up was made to acquire EUCDP facilities which were handled over in June, 1999. In order to implement smoothly the planned activities during the bridging period three management meetings were conducted at the headquarters office. Final report for the 2nd phase was finalised and sent to the respective authorities.

Long term studies for three officers were supported by the project at SUA (BSc. Forestry) and at the FTI in Olmotonyi (Diploma and Certificate in Forestry). One month short course on Plant Conservation Techniques was organised in Nairobi - Kenya and supported by the Project.

Strategies

The East Usambara Conservation Area Management Programme will consolidate past achievements of both the EUCFP and EUCDP, and lay the foundation for a long-term programme of forest conservation. It is envisaged that this larger programme will involve long-term collaboration among the Government of Tanzania, various stakeholders and supporters. As the overall programme develops, it is anticipated that additional sources of support will be secured.

The East Usambara Conservation Area Management Programme will be implemented through three basic approaches, or strategies. First, EUCAMP will pursue an integrated implementation approach to forest conservation for the entire East Usambaras. The intended results are interrelated and cross-cutting, and thus require integrated team efforts to be achieved. To increase the conservation status of the overall area and underscore the importance of integrated management approaches, the aim is for the East Usambaras to be declared a UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere Reserve."

Second, EUCAMP will focus on ensuring sustainable forest conservation through the consolidation of its pilot efforts by putting into place integrated and participatory management systems. Step-by-step procedures, model plans and agreements, and training materials will be developed to guide participatory management of nature reserves, joint forest management of catchment forests, village forest management, improved management of forest resources in farm lands, and promotion of eco-tourism. These training and extension activities will aim to build the involvement of local communities, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

Finally, these forest conservation efforts will receive institutional and related support. EUCAMP will seek to build capacity of government as well as non-governmental institutions, particularly at village level, through improved organisational structures and training. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing long-term financing mechanisms. The field experiences and pilot activities will be used to make recommendations for improvements in national-level policy and legislation. Collaboration and exchange of information with researchers will continue to be supported, to strengthen information needed for sustainable management. The botanical garden will be rehabilitated, and other existing facilities in Amani will be further developed to provide a centre for tropical forestry research and training. Overall monitoring systems will be developed, so that progress towards more sustainable forest management can be better assessed. Such monitoring will include not only the ecological but also socio-economic impacts of management activities.