East Usambara Mountains Photo: Ivar Jørgensen
Tanzania’s environment is under pressure. An increasing population is in need of new land for agriculture and grazing, more water, and more trees for construction, fuel wood and charcoal. Investors are acquiring substantial areas for commercial forestry, cultivation of bio fuels and other crops. As a result, the competition for land and water increases, and forests face degradation. High value timber is cut for export, often in an unsustainable way. At the same time, these natural resources represent the most important basis for economic development and poverty reduction. Sustainable management could increase both local incomes and government revenues.
Knowledge about climate change is limited, but estimates suggest that both temperatures and rainfall might increase in the years to come. Tanzania has not managed to benefit from existing carbon financing systems, and the country currently loses 400.000 hectares of forest annually, over 1% of the forest estate. This represents CO2 emissions of up to 100 million tonnes per year, which places Tanzania as an important source of CO2 emissions in Africa.
Through Participatory Forest Management (PFM) – where villagers are encouraged to manage their forests better - important results have been achieved. Lack of clarity on benefit sharing and land tenure is however limiting factors. The PFM experience forms a solid basis for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) work in Tanzania.
The Role of Norway
Norway has a long history of involvement in natural resource management in Tanzania. In 2008 the main activity was preparations of a comprehensive REDD programme. The follow up of previous support to forestry, fisheries and wildlife has been halted due to unresolved audit queries arising from the previous project. Norway is also supporting Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation (TaTEDO) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). TaTEDO is promoting traditional energy solutions and the links to forest management, while WWF is running a programme to strengthen the ability of civil society in Tanzania to have policy influence at local and national levels.
Results
Tanzania has positioned itself as a key player on REDD in Africa. It is one of three UN REDD quick start countries in Africa, it has been included in the World Bank’s Proposed Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and is developing the partnership on forest and climate with Norway, which will be the largest funding source. The knowledge of REDD is growing rapidly and also starting to penetrate to the political level. A number of NGOs and some private sector entities are operating projects that will assist communities tap into the carbon market, and many more are developing plans for such projects. Research institutions are also developing new knowledge on issues like measuring results in reduced deforestation.
Tanzania has developed a Sector Wide Approach for Forestry, coordinating the efforts of government with the support of development partners. PFM programmes are running in more than 1000 villages, and the adoption rates of energy saving stoves are re-increasing in areas where TaTEDO is operating. Organisations taking part in WWF’s training programme for more effective advocacy are also gradually becoming more daring both at local and national levels, slowly changing the tradition of perceiving NGOs as service providers rather than watchdogs.
Summary of Support
Norway is allocating up to 100 million NOK annually to support REDD in Tanzania
WWF is granted NOK 5 million annually, and TaTEDO NOK 10 million.
For more information on the Embassy's work on environment and climate change, please contact:
Ivar Jørgensen
Counsellor Environment & Climate Change
ivjo@mfa.no / (255) 782 77 7023
Yassin Mkwizu
Program Officer Environment & Climate Change
ybm@mfa.no / (255) 782 77 7025