ENG - UN CC:Learn

UGANDA
AFRICA
TANZANIA
MDG7
Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability
Since 1990,Tanzania has made marked progress in developing a strategy for
sustainable development. A National Environmental Action Plan was produced
in 1994, a National Environmental Policy was adopted in 1997 and
work on a National Strategy for Sustainable Development was initiated in
2000. Implementation of the action plan and the principles laid down in
the policy is ongoing. However, despite this strong policy framework, it will
TANZANIA
Dodoma
(Political capital)
Dar Es Salaam
(Commercial capital)
Mbeya
be challenging for Tanzania to reverse the loss of its environmental resources, unless significant progress is made in
the reduction of poverty levels.
Tanzania has a rich natural endowment, with some 23% of its territory established as protected areas to conserve its biodiversity.However,these
natural resources have come under increasing pressure,and effective implementation of the sustainable development
strategy could be compromised by a number of factors, including: insufficient institutional framework for coordination; limited governmental
capacity for environmental management; insufficient involvement of local authorities and communities in environmental
management and conservation; and poverty.
Overgrazing, ground fires and felling of trees for various uses - some 91% of the population relies on traditional fuels for energy use -
are reducing the regeneration of plants and animals. Some 60% of the land total is classified as dry lands, threatened by desertification.
The result is a negative spiral: while poverty contributes to environmental degradation, so environmental degradation contributes to
the intensification and perpetuation of poverty.
There are clear signs that the government's recent efforts to increase public awareness about the importance of environmental management
and conservation are bearing fruit. For example, there are
now some 159 Community Based Organizations and NGOs that are
QUICK FACTS
CURRENT PORTFOLIO BUDGET
Total UNDP-GEF and Co-Finance: $31,256,471
Total UNDP and Co-Finance: $2,330,000
Total MPU and Bilateral: $175,134
Total: $33,761,605
Cumulative Total ODS Phased-Out:
106.5 ODP tonnes
Community-based Land Management Protects Biodiversity and Reduces Poverty 2
BURUNDI
devoted to environmental issues. These organizations are often
important partners for implementing various programmes related to
environmental conservation, management and sanitation in both
urban and rural areas. These community-based efforts have been
complimented by public education programmes on the environment,
which are broadcast on radio and television and reported in
the print media.Together,these efforts are helping to raise the public's
interest in, and commitment to, environmental conservation and
management in Tanzania and in effect, increase prospects for
achieving MDG 7 for environmental sustainability. 1
UNDP’s Equator Initiative awarded the Suledo community with a US$ 30,000 grant in 2002, in recognition of their outstanding
community efforts for poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation. Through a participatory decision-making process
among the community members, it was decided that US$ 18,000 will be equally distributed among the 9 villages comprising
Suledo (US$ 2,000 per village) for new development projects in each village. Design and implementation of the projects will be
participatory; all community members in their respective villages will be given the opportunity to share ideas about the establishment
of the project, and the development of implementation strategies.The remaining US$ 12,000 will be used to strengthen
BIODIVERSITY
projects already in progress, and to address the problem of encroachment on Suledo by introducing village-based forest
management initiatives in encroaching villages.
RWANDA
ZAMBIA
Mwanza
MALAWI
KENYA
Tanga
Zanzibar
MOZAMBIQUE
Indian
Ocean
SPOTLIGHT
Having being spurred into action in 1993 by government plans for the use of local forests,Tanzania’s Suledo Forest Community
has regained control over land management and devised a system of unique forest planning zones.
Harnessing their knowledge of the species-rich Miombo forests of Tanzania's Arusha region, the Suledo Forest Community have
established an effective system of village-based forest management that meets the diverse needs of the local people. To add
weight to community anti-poaching rules, villages in the area have passed supportive by-laws, and members of local communities
now patrol each forest zone to ensure enforcement. As a result of these interventions, villagers now have access to a
greater range of forest products, including sustainable timber and products such as fruits, nuts, mushrooms and medicines.
Water supply has also been improved, sustainable tree nurseries, vegetable gardens and orchards have been introduced, and
maize production has increased from 15 to 25 bags per hectare.
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