LEAT Activities

LEAT Biodiversity Programmes

Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) [http://www.leat.or.tz/activities/biodiv/cbnrm/]

Conservation and Development Opportunities from the Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in the Communal Lands of Southern Africa (CODEOSUB) [http://www.leat.or.tz/activities/biodiv/codeosub/]

Impala CBD and CBNRM Workshop

The CBD & CBNRM in Tanzania Workshop was held at Impala Hotel in Arusha from 3rd to 5th Sept 2003. LEAT organized a workshop to discuss on the incoming national environmental legislation under Environmental law campaign. The CODEOB took advantage of the workshop by combining resources provided by from Environmental law campaign to that of CODEOSUB to join the workshop and in doing so it was possible to get a wide spectrum of participants including Members of Parliament (MP). The workshop was designed to cover three days where tow first days could have been used for the discussion on the proposal of the environmental law and the last day was dedicated for only CDB and CBNRM. The aim of the CBD & CBNRM workshop was to discuss critically the CBD Provisions and the participation of local communities in the protection and conservation of natural resources in the country, with the following objectives:

1. To provide a platform where communities could meet with members of Parliament
2. Raising awareness on the part of MPs and other stakeholders on CBD and CBNRM in the country
3. Receive and discuss presentations from the experiences from national and regional biodiversity projects along with communities initiatives
4. Discuss and recommend on the ways in which CBNRM could be a success in the country
5. Raise specific comments on the way in which CBNRM could take an advantage of he new environmental law coming

The workshop was officially opened by the Acting Arusha Regional Administrative Secretary Mr. Mchome on behalf of the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Honorable Mohamed Babu. It was attended by some Honorable Members of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, International Organizations Representatives, Government officials, Academia, Media, and Environmental Civil Society Organizations.

Two representatives from two CBOs made their presentation on their involvement on Natural Resources Management. Mr. Msumba from the Southern Zone Confederation on Marine Environment (SOZOCOMAE) which covers Kilwa, Lindi and Mtwara gave their fight in stopping illegal fishing methods along the shore of Indian ocean. They were very successful in stopping illegal fishing particularly dynamite fishing in collaboration with the government. Ms Concheta Mkundi from Isimani in Iringa region gave the Isimani experience from the role women groups play in conserving the environment in relation to rescuing their livelihood.

Dr. Allan Rodgers made a presentation on the experiences of CBD implementation in the country with CBRNM success under UNDP/GEF East African Cross Boarder Biodiversity Project for which he was the Project Manager. His presentation made participants aware on the biodiversity management status in the country. It was an opportunity for MPs to get them knows some of the biodiversity issues especially the ecosystem approach.

Mr. Rugemeleza Nshala who was the LEAT Executive Director may a presentation on the CBD. He made emphasis on the articles that make provision for the recognition of the role of local communities along with their indigenous knowledge that made conservation a success.

Lessons from the Kindoroko Workshop were presented by the CODEOSUB national coordinator Mr. Yassin Mkwizu with the aim of availing to the participants the transpired in that workshop.

Participants were then given an opportunity to make their contribution on the way forward in making CBNRM a success in the country. This mainly came in the form of identifying what was the reality, opportunities and challenges of the CBNRM in the Tanzanian context.

• There has been lack and insufficient understanding of laws and policies related to environmental matters among local communities. It was suggested that while NGOs and CBOs continue to make their contribution in educating communities, there should be a specific provision from the government for educating communities on the new coming environmental law if they are to actively participate in the implementation of the law. The CBNRM will succeed if communities have understanding on the provisions from the laws on their rights.

• It was observed that participation by local communities at the stage of policy and laws formulation is very minimal. This in turn, makes local communities unwilling to participate at the implementation stage. It was advised that communities should be involved from the design and formulation process to make their participation a success and in so doing CBNRM will be achieved.

• There should be alternatives to activities that lead into the depletion of biodiversity resources. It was revealed that communities leaving adjacent to biodiversity will continue to use resources in unsustainable way if alternatives are not provided for them. It was suggested that people who depend on forests be provided by an alternative sources of fuel and less energy consuming stoves.

• It was pointed out that natural resources involve three communities namely the Global Community, the National Community and the Local Community. There is always a conflict between the interests of these communities. In most cases, the interests of the Global community prevail. This is to say that legal and socio-economic instruments should be used together in facilitating CBNRM such that local communities can have an equal opportunity.

• For CBNRM to succeed in the country, people should benefit from their natural resources. The Central Government and the local Governments have not focused on CBNRM as a means of poverty eradication. Governments should considered human beings as the main beneficiaries of CBNRM and address poverty issues related to man and other alternatives.

• A need for pollution prevention was highlighted as an important aspect of biodiversity conservation. Industries in Dar es Salaam and along Lake Victoria fro example are casing environmental pollution and this is pausing threat to marine and freshwater ecosystems. It was advised that the coming law should address this problem exhaustively.

The workshop was officially closed by Hon. Aggrey Mwanri the MP for Siha Kilimanjaro region. He thanked LEAT for their initiative of calling together different stakeholders to come together and discuss on the incoming environmental law. He recommended the works done by communities in SOZOCOMAE and in conserving marine environment as presented by Mr. Msumba and the Women groups in Ismani - Iringa presented by Ms C. Mkundi. He finally promised that they (MPs) will work hard to see that the comments raised during the workshop are reflected in the law once the bill is tabled in the Parliament.