Tanzania

Programme Summary


The program in Tanzania started in 2008 and since then has distributed well over half a million seeds. By December 2009 The Ngara Jatropha Fondation in Bukoba Region was engaged in distributing hundreds of thousands of Jatropha seedlings as well as other species of trees throughout Ngara District. Thanks to successful partnerships with community groups, sympathetic organisations and Peace Corps it was projected that 800,000 trees be planted by the year’s end.
Partners Network

Maasai Pastoralists Development Organisation - Floresta Tanzania - Mufindi Environmental Trust - Roots and Shoots - Sustainable Harvest - Ngara Jatropha Foundation - KAESO - Peramiho Seminary - Imiliwaha Convent - Njohoroni Village Tree Planting Group - Machame Ward Project


Background

Many Tanzanians are not interested in working in groups because of past government policies forcing group cooperation and the presence of large Non governing organisations (NGO’S) has caused the misconception that all NGO’s are well funded, both NGO'S and Community based organisations (CBO’s) hold unrealistic expectations of what partnering organisations can provide. This is accelerated as most Tanzanians show little interest in planting trees with exception to pine and eucalyptus.


The reality is extensive deforestation occurs in Tanzania with 3,500 square kilometres of forested land lost every year. The deforestation on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro has allowed for the hot air from the Serengeti Plain to reach the summit and accelerate the melting of its glaciers. Additionally, overgrazing by livestock causes desertification in Northern and Central Tanzania.


The Response

A diverse group of partnering organisations have been tasked to focus on a wide range of objectives including local tree planting projects that provide fuel wood to women, large scale alternative energy tree planting projects and local NGO's that are committed to providing tree seedlings to as many communities as possible.


By the end of 2009 the Tanzania Program Continued to expand rapidly. Several more partnering organisations were added to the project, most notably Kasulu Youth Development (KAYD) in Kigoma Region and the West Victoria Development Agency (WEVIDA) in Bukoba Region in Western Tanzania. The Tanzania Program also increased its cooperation with Peace Corps and started working with about 20 Peace Corps Volunteers throughout the country by providing seeds and training materials.


The Tanzania Program has also deepened its connections with partnering organisations. With the MPDO Project in Arusha Region, funding was provided so that representatives from 8 villages were able to participate in a nursery and agro forestry workshop.


During the first quarter of 2009 considerable progress was made for the Tanzania Program. There was an increasing interest on the parts of local NGO's and Community-Based Organizations (CBO's) to participate with partnering organisations on projects in Tanzania. More partners are continuously requesting furthering projects and seeds from regions throughout Tanzania, which demonstrates how much interest there is in tree planting projects by organisations and institutions.