The timely initiative, christened ‘Kiboriani Reforestation and Beekeeping
Project’ is an incentive to encourage the farmers to beef up the war against
environmental degradation in their areas.
In his remarks during launching of the project over the weekend in
Mpwapwa District, Director of Programmes at LEAD Foundation, Njamasi
Chiwanga, said the environment surrounding Kiboriani mountains, which is a major water source for the two districts have to a great extent destroyed by unfriendly human activities.
He added, mass deforestation at the said mountains had propelled major
havoc , including floods, land erosion and degradation, a situation which
destroyed even farming activities in most parts within the two districts.
“We have decided to introduce this project as indirect way of encouraging
the farmers to actively stand at the fore front in conserving their
environment”

“As long as beekeeping banks largely on availability of enough healthier
trees for carrying beehives, the farmers will automatically ensure for better environment in order to benefit from this project,” he said.
He said to start with, the project will absorb at least 600 households in the
six villages.

Speaking shortly after handed over 300 beehives to the beneficiaries,
Mpwapwa District Administrative Secretary (DAS) Sarah Komba urged the
beneficiaries farmers’ groups to register their unions in order to access
loans from different financial institutions.
Moreover, she hailed LEAD Foundation for its commitment to stepping up
thee war against the wave of deforestation throughout the country.
The launched project, is under auspices of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Tanzania.

The foundation implements also a three-year program in all districts in
Dodoma Region. Dubbed ‘Kisiki Hai’ the regional wide movement targets to
make the region green, focusing to reach more than 180,000 households with set target of regenerating 14 million trees using the Kisiki Hai (FMNR) technique.

The post Mpwapwa and Kongwa farmers to benefit from a new beekeeping project appeared first on LEAD Foundation.

The main goal of the workshop was to scale up Kisiki Hai countrywide and to promote a National Regreening Movement involving the Tanzania Government, Civil Society Organisations and Development Partners to join forces in combating desertification and turning degraded land into food baskets through simple, rapid, low cost and sustainable methods, in particular, Kisiki Hai.

The United Republic of Tanzania with a high and fast growing population faces a severe crisis of desertification and land degradation. The Tanzania state of the Environment Report (2014) estimates 61% of the semi-arid regions has been severely degraded.

Here again, LF as lead organizer for the workshop, went through a period of stress when fundraising efforts seemed to reach a dead end. A very pleasant surprise came when the Speaker’s Office offered to meet about 60% of the costs of the workshop. Through a combination of in-kind contribution and assistance from other sources, the national workshop began and ended comfortably.

“Most of the important things in the world have been achieved by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” — Dale Carnegie.

The workshop was a great success, beyond expectations! The workshop goal was well received. The presence of the Minister of Environment in the Vice President’s Office and two deputy ministers among 200 Members of Parliament was hugely significant. The workshop was also attended by 40 Senior Executives from the government and civil society. Some of the expected outcomes of the workshop began to appear immediately. The Minister for the Environment, in closing the workshop:

(a)    Publicly announced government recognition and support of Kisiki Hai;

(b)   Promised the formation of a national coordinating body for the regreening of Tanzania movement, consisting of   representatives from the Tanzanian government, civil society and donors;

(c)    Called for immediate mainstreaming of Kisiki Hai into relevant government programmes, and to include Kisiki Hai into school and college curricula at all levels from primary school.

The Office of the Vice President, as promised at the workshop, did provide LF with a copy of the proposed mega national “tree planting” strategy, to recommend places for inclusion of Kisiki Hai, and offer any other suggestions. That editing work was accomplished and sent to the VPO.

The final stage of editing the strategy before it goes to the Cabinet was a workshop organized by the VPO from  10-11 October 2016, in Morogoro, involving 30 participants representing stakeholders from the government, religious institutions, civil society organisations, educational and research institutions. Bishop Chiwanga (LF) was invited as a resource person.

With regard to Kisiki Hai, almost all of the recommendations submitted were incorporated. Bishop Chiwanga was given, by the secretariat of the workshop, very short notice, too short to consult with others, to submit guidelines for Kisiki Hai to go alongside those of tree planting as an appendix to the national tree planting and natural regeneration management strategy. It was done.

Since the Morogoro workshop messages are received regularly from some of the participants expressing their appreciation of the Kisiki Hai technology, which, they assert, is a revelation and a sure way of bringing about the longed for green revolution in Tanzania.

WAZIRI MAKAMBA AFUNGA WARSHA YA SIKU MOJA KWA WABUNGE KUHUSU KUKABILIANA NA JANGWA, KUBORESHA ARDHI ILIYOCHAKAA ILI IZALISHE ZAIDI

Imechapishwa na: Muhidin Sufiani Tarehe: Sunday, June 19, 2016

Waziri wa nchi, Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais Muungano na Mazingira Mhe.January Makamba, amesema kuwa wameandaa mashindano ya upandaji wa miti na ufufuaji wa visiki hai katika ngazi zote nchini ili kufanikisha mapinduzi ya kijani na kutoa kiasi cha pesa cha shilingi milioni 100 kwa halmshauri itakayofanya vizuri.

Waziri Makamba ameyasema hayo alipokuwa akifunga warsha ya siku moja kwa wabunge kuhusu kukabiliana na tishio la jangwa na kuboresha ardhi iliyochakaa ili izalishe zaidi wakati wa Warsha hiyo iliyofanyika katika ukumbi wa Bunge wa Pius Msekwa jijini Dodoma.

Aidha amesema kuwa atashirikiana na Tamisemi na Wizara ya Elimu kuhakikisha elimu ya upandaji miti na ufufuaji wa visiki hai inatolewa kuanzia ngazi ya elimu ya Awali ili wanafunzi waanze kupata elimu hiyo kuanzia katika ngazi ya chini.

Aidha Mhe. Makamba alisema kuwa usitawishaji wa miti ndiyo utaleta manufaa makubwa nchini mwetu kwani hakuna sekta isiyotegemea miti toka uumbwaji wa dunia hii kwani Nyanja za Afya, ufugaji, misitu, utalii na maji zote zinategemea uhifadhi wa Mazingira yetu.

Aidha waziri huyo mwenye dhamana ya mazingira alisema kuwa kama jamii yetu haitahifadhi mazingira basi hakuna sekta itakayofaidika na kuongeza kwamba atasimama kidete kutengeneza mikakati ya maendeleo juu ya mazingira. Pia ameahidi Serikali kutenga fedha za kutosha, kutengeneza Sera nzuri, sheria na miongozo yenye tija katika mipango ya maendeleo.

Katika upande mwingine amesema kuwa kwa sasa utaratibu wa kufufua visiki hai ni jambo ambalo litawekwa katika mpango wa maendeleo ya Taifa na kuzitaka wizara zinazo husiana na mazingira kushirikisha watu wote ikiwemo kuwapa elimu kuhusu ufufuaji wa visiki hai.

Aidha Waziri Makamba amesema kuwa serikali inamkakati mkubwa wa uboreshaji wa Sera za Mazingira. Uko mkakati wa kupanda na kutunza miti wa mwaka 2016-2021 ukiwa katika mipango mahususi ya kuifanya Tanzania kuwa ya Kijani.

Warsha hiyo kwa wabunge imeeandaliwa na Shirika la LEAD Foundation kwa kushirikiana na Ofisi ya Bunge na wadau kutoka World Vision, EverGreen Agriculture na World Agroforestry Center ambao walitoa mada mbalimbali kwa wabunge ikiwemo jinsi ya kuhifadhi Uoto wa Asili, Kilimo cha kijani, na nia nyingine kama Kisiki Hai (FMNR) na Ngitili zinavyoweza kuchangia Mpango wa kitaifa wa Upandaji Miti na kuimarisha mshikamano kitaifa wa ustawishaji Miti.

The post A National Workshop on “Combating Desertification and restoring degraded lands into Food Baskets” appeared first on LEAD Foundation.

The workshop occasion was used also to formally launch FMNR in Mpwapwa and Kongwa districts, with launch symbols of four living tree stumps pruned by Tony Rinaudo, Assefa Tofu, and the two District Commissioners. The training and the fellowship left an indelible mark in the minds and hearts of participants.

The post “Conserve Kiboriani-the Fountain of Life” Project appeared first on LEAD Foundation.