FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION - UNEP World Conservation ...

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6 SYNTHESIS (POTENTIAL OF ADOPTING FLR IN
TANZANIA)
6.1 Relevance of FLR to national priorities
Development priorities in Tanzania are centred on poverty eradication, improvement of local community well-being
and sound environmental conservation. It is acknowledged by national development strategies and most sector policies
analysed that natural resources in particular forestry contribute significantly to community well-being. Contribution of
forest to poverty eradication and environmental conservation is based on consideration of forest functions and not on
single or few functions. Learning from experience, the new forest policy of 1998 have realised the importance of
considering forest functions as a new strategy of forest development as opposed to traditional forestry practices with
centralised management and consideration of few forest functions in management of forest reserves and industrial
plantations. The forest policy of 1998 is encouraging villagers to manage un-reserved forest areas, which accounts for
more than 66 percent of the total forest area in Tanzania based on Community Forest Management that is in line with
FLR parameters.
Sustainable management of natural resources through effective community participation and multi-sectoral coordination
by relevant stakeholders could enhance livelihood of the community and poverty eradication by contributing
to improvement of agriculture, health, nutrition, education, water supply, conservation of transport infrastructures,
shelter and by providing opportunities for different stakeholders to contribute to the process of sustainable management
of natural resources through gainful employment using proven scientific and technological practices. FLR advocate
sustainable management of natural resources through multi-sectoral co-operation as the way forward for minimising
conflicts in natural resource management.
6.2 Perceptions of forest functionality of key stakeholders
The study confirmed that there is strong link between forest functionality’s, economic development and causes of
forest degradation and deforestation in Tanzania. Out of the 13 sector policies analysed, 9 sector policies had
supportive statements on forest functionality and two out of the three overall national development strategies analysed
had supportive statements on forest functionality. Based on the results it can be concluded that perception of key
stakeholders of the importance of forest functions to economic and environmental conservation is satisfactory.
However, differences can exist on what policy states, and actual perception of some key stakeholders even within the
same category of stakeholders.
Sector policies with neutral situation on forest functionality were agriculture/livestock, land, and minerals. The policies
of these sectors concentrated on traditional sector functions hence overlooking forest functions in terms of policy
statements but in principle they could be implied in their environmental conservation statements of the sector policies.
The Tanzania development Vision 2025 also does not mention specifically the different forest functions, but they could
be implied in the overall environmental conservation strategies. Perceptions of forest functionality of stakeholders with
neutral sector policies on forest functions could be rated low. Efforts are therefore required to intensify their awareness
through workshops and seminars.
The general trend observed through literature review and analysis of sector policies and national strategies show that
stakeholders’ perception on forest functionality to poverty eradication and environmental conservation is increasing
although at a slow pace. For example many of the traditional forestry practices of centralisation and emphasis to
monoculture forest plantations have been changed by the forest policy of 1998, giving emphasis to restoration of
multiple forest functions in line with FLR parameters.
Tanzania embraces science and technology as a vital tool for accelerating its socio-economic development. The forest
policy of 1998 and other sector policies analysed are advocating the use of best available technology principles for
conservation and wise utilisation of natural resources that is in line with FLR parameters.