Norway has allocated NOK 500 million (USD 73 million) to the development of a national Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) programme in Tanzania over a five-year period. The delegation from the Government of Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative was in the country to study how Tanzania can make use of these funds. Tanzania’s deforestation strategy is being developed in collaboration with the UN-Redd Programme.
THE DELEGATION: From the left, Executive Officer Gry Solstad, Deputy Director General Håvard Toresen, Director of the initiative Ambassador Hans Brattskar, Norway's Ambassador to Tanzania Jon Lomøy and Deputy Head Per Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo. PHOTO: Ivar Jørgensen
Large Emissions from Deforestation
Greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries account for about 20% of the world’s total annual anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and these emissions are not included in the Kyoto Protocol commitments. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), measures to reduce deforestation will be essential to achieve the target of limiting the global temperature rise to 2°C. In addition to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reduced deforestation and forest degradation will also have positive impacts on biodiversity and poverty reduction.
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GREETINGS: The head of the delegation, Ambassador Hans Brattskar, is being greeted by a member of the forest committee in Mgambo Miembeni village. PHOTO: Ivar Jørgensen
Field Trip to Tanga
The delegation stayed in Tanzania from 21-23 January, and on the first day they went to Tanga region where they met with people from Mgambo Miembeni village in Muheza district. The meeting was held inside the Handeni forest, which is a village forest reserve owned and managed by the community. Some villagers performed a song at the meeting, with the main message being that they are determined to manage and preserve their forest. Furthermore, the villagers shared their experiences with the delegation and pointed at the importance of cooperating with a broad range of stakeholders.
SINGING: Women from the village performed a song about combating deforestation. PHOTO: Ivar Jørgensen
From Mgambo Miembeni village the delegation went to Amani Nature Reserve where they met with NGOs and local stakeholders. On the following day the delegation returned to Dar es Salaam where they had meetings with national stakeholders, UN organisations, NGOs and decision makers.
Valuable Visit
- The visit was useful for both the delegation and the Embassy team. It is very important to involve key stakeholders in the process as early as possible, says Mr. Yassin Mkwizu, Programme Officer on Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change at the Norwegian Embassy.
He was responsible for the visit together with the Embassy’s Counsellor on Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Ivar Jørgensen.
- The visit was an important milestone in advancing the Climate Change partnership. Immediately after the visit there was a government-led workshop to start the development of a national REDD programme, says Mr. Jørgensen.
For more information please contact Counsellor Ivar Jørgensen +255 782 777 023 /
ivjo@mfa.no or Programme Officer Yassin Mkwizu +255 782 777 025 / ybm@mfa.no