FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION - UNEP World Conservation ...

xxi
Constraints
Constraints for introducing FLR that emerged from analysis of sector policies and ongoing policy initiatives include:
• Forestry is not included amongst the priority funding sectors in Tanzania.
• Extension efforts on forestry and environmental conservation have reached very low proportion of the local
community (below 5 percent of the target group).
• FLR concept is new hence it may take time for people to understand it.
Priority areas for promoting FLR
Generic priority areas for promoting FLR include:
• Awareness creation to policy and decision-makers’ on FLR concept and its contribution to national development
priorities to eradicate poverty and ensure sustainable environmental conservation.
• Provision of extension services to village governments to provide enabling capacity for initiating FLR programmes
through local initiatives.
• Establishment of a FLR network system to intensify sharing of field experiences and minimise duplication of
efforts.
Conclusions
Based on results and lessons discussed in this study it can be concluded that:
• Overall national development strategies, sector policies and on going forestry initiatives to implement the forest
policy of 1998 have strong supporting elements to FLR.
• Consideration of forest functions within the concepts of FLR will intensify contribution of the forestry sector to
national priorities of eradicating poverty and environmental conservation. It will also support the priority sectors of
agriculture, health, nutrition, education, water and transport to achieve their development goals.
Recommendations
Concerted efforts by all stakeholders are required to fully utilise the existing opportunities for introducing and
promoting FLR in Tanzania as a component of achieving national socio-economic development priorities.
The few constraints identified provide a starting challenge for introducing FLR. It is recommended to find solutions to
the constraints through community participation, multi-sectoral co-operation and adoption of efficient resource
utilisation technologies.
Understanding and considering the different functions of forest services and products to society economic and social
development by managers, planners, politicians and users of forests will enhance implementation of FLR. An important
starting point for FLR is to integrate forest functions into policies, both economic and environmental policies at village
to national level. Policy makers and planners in the different sectors with policies supporting sustainable conservation
of natural resources should be in the forefront in devising systems of forest valuation and contribute in creating
awareness on the realistic value of forests to livelihood and poverty reduction.
Awareness creation on FLR could intensify informed consensus by stakeholders on forest functions and its contribution
to enhanced human well being and poverty eradication.
Knowledge and recognition of forest conservation taking the landscape approach was observed to be low in six sector
policies namely agriculture/livestock, fishery, energy, women development and gender, mineral and youth. Efforts are
therefore required to intensify awareness of sector policy makers and planners on the concept of managing natural
resources taking into account the landscape approach.
Consideration and skills to adopt the FLR parameter on flexibility for negotiations aimed at building consensus about
forest restoration was observed to be weak in most sector policies reviewed including the forestry sector. Training on
flexibility for building consensus about forest restoration could be a component of introducing and promoting FLR.