Crediting forest Carbons

An important and key aspect for determining the carbon benefits of any forest is to accurately quantify the levels of carbons changes to known levels of precisions. This determination of carbon changes requires baselines e.g. historical trends on carbon benefits or measurements of carbon through agreed and standardized methods. Again, the most possible and promising options for crediting forest carbon through reduction in emissions from deforestations, reduction in emissions from all sources and conservation of existing carbon stocks, especially from forests. 

Plant a tree now and save the world tommorow

As old as they appear, they never regret by planting trees. Communities in Bumbamsolo village in Rufiji are quite concerned with the tree cutting for charcoal making. In dealing with the problem, they realized the serious degradation and deforestation resulting from unsustainable charcoal making. Tree planting is their priority activity facilitated by partners.  

Participatory Forest Management evaluated

By early 1990,  Participatory Forest Management (PFM) was introduced in Tanzania, it is estimated to cover over 4 million ha of forests and woodlands across the country. It has two forms: Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) and Joint Forest Management (JFM).Under the arrangement of CBFM, forests are mainly miombo or acacia woodlands as these constitute the largest ecosystem type of open and unreserved forests. Whereas, JFM arrangement concentrated mostly in forest reserves which are mostly montane forests as well as mangroves, mainly are under territorial or central government. 

PFM appears to perform differently under different conditions and a range of inter-linked factors appear to influence its ability to deliver positive forest management, livelihood or governance outcomes. CBFM is gaining more participation and it has wider coverage compared to JFM. Perhaps the most important factor that determines the efficiency of CBFM at the local level is related to capacity and governance issues at the local government level and ability of the district facilitators  to work effectively with communities, through extension services and approaches.

2011 a year of re-discovery - Karomia gigas and Erythrina scheilbennii

In 2011, A group of scientist have recently re-discovered the once-believed to be extinct flora species in Kilwa district. The species iis found close to Ngarama forest reserves and were not retraced since 1930s hence to be declared exitinct. However, with their recent discovery probably should be put into IUCN Red lists. Conservation measures are crucial to identify the remaining patches and promote regeneration for the surviving individuals.

Mbarawala coastal forests massif may be rescued from land grabbing!

In June 2011, a team of Kilwa Ditsrict Participatory Land Use and Management (PLUM) team, worked with Likawage, Nainokwe and Nakiu village for major land use planning, which included the establishment of proposed Mbarawala Plateau Local Authority  Forest Reserve. The plateau contains one of the huge remain vegetation massif of the last remaining coastal forests in Kilwa district. The land use planning came up with at least more than 23,000Ha to be surveyed as Kilwa LAFR. With partiners' initiatives in Kilwa who are mostly NGOs working in forest management, it is hope more open access forests will be put into ownerships of either Village land forest reserves or Local Authority Forest reserves, hence rescuing from speedy rush for 'land grabbing' and investments