Effective engagement of residents to restore natural vegetation in Chome urged

Same. The involvement of the residents of villages surrounding the Chome Natural Forest in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region, has been described as an important role in the restoration and protection of the forest's natural vegetation.

The engagement of the residents in the undertaking of environmentally friendly projects in their respective areas is highly acknowledged in the restoration of natural forests and protection of environmental degradation.

The Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Danstan Kitandula, made the statement on Friday, August 9, 2024, when inspecting environmental conservation projects being undertaken under the funding of the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Fund (EAMCEF).

He said most projects implemented by communities had played an important role in reducing environmental degradation and effectively curbing human activities in the forests.

Mr Kitandula said the past incidents of bushfires and mining activities adversely contributed to the destruction of natural vegetation and the environment in general.

“Currently, as we have observed, there is no longer destruction, and the natural vegetation is getting restored. This has been possible because the residents are benefiting from projects that have greatly helped improve the forests,” he said.

“The residents have been involved in establishing nurseries for native tree species that has helped restore the natural vegetation that used to be destroyed by human activities," he added.

The deputy minister said the residents had now acknowledged the importance of environmental conservation due to the benefits they gain from the projects.

The EAMCEF Executive Director, Mr Francis Sabuni, said they had been funding environmental projects being implemented by the community with the goal to expand their alternative sources of income such as beekeeping, fish farming, energy-saving stoves, and avocado farming, among others.

He said the projects, apart from reducing forest destruction, had enhanced community development through the establishment of entrepreneurial projects that enhanced the residents' financial capabilities to support their lives including educating their children.

“The projects have helped step up the protection of the forests to thrive including improving the lives of the surrounding communities,” he said.

Since 2006, he said EAMCEF had been providing grants to the residents living around the Eastern Arc Mountains so that they could engage in environmental conservation and biodiversity protection.

According to him, there has been an annual grant of Sh1 billion provided for natural reserves and the undertaking of various environmentally friendly projects in the areas traversed by the mountain ranges.

For his part, the ministry’s forest and beekeeping director, Mr Deusdedit Bwoyo, said since the residents were engaged in the undertaking of the projects, significant changes in the natural forests had been made.

“Morogoro, Iringa, and Tanga regions have been implementing similar projects, enabling the citizens to generate sufficient income and reduce human activities that adversely contribute to severe natural forest destruction,” he said.