The scheme has already rewarded the communities and individuals who have managed to conserve village natural forest, water sources and natural vegetation, the award ranging from one million to 2m/- respectively.
Among the communities and water users associations (WUAs) benefited in the competition include MBUTILU of Wanging’ombe District, Njombe Region who have managed to protect more than 400 water sources, Mabadaga Village for conserving their 900 hectares of village natural forest in Mbarali District, Mbeya and JUWABODOFYA water users association in Madibila, Mbarali district for protection the water sources for Mfyamba River and others in Mufindi District, Iringa Region.
RNP Outreach Officer, Moronda Moronda said yesterday that the national park has been conducting outreach programs to communities living around the park, educating them on conservation issues.
Moronda said that TANAPA Community Environmental Award Scheme (CEAS) through Ruaha National Park (RNP) will be act as a pilot area and if the program works well it will be spread to other national parks.
He added that SPANEST project and WWF-RWP program have been helping RNP with outreach programs, creating awareness to the communities on how they can conserve and benefit from living around the national park.
The Strengthening Protected Areas Network in Southern Tanzania (SPANEST) project which is being supported by the Government, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) purchased a grader which enabled rehabilitation of roads within and outside the RNP.
He said that the challenges to the drying up of water sources are emerging due to the unsustainable use of forests, deforestation, and irrigation, destruction of water sources and environmental degradation which led many people lack water and sparking conflicts in society.
The Ruaha National Park in partnership with other conservation stakeholders like WWF, SPANEST and Rufiji Basin Water Office (RBWO) have established a TANAPA AWARD meant for recognizing the community who have done environmental conservation by the communities living around the park.
WWF Tanzania’s Ruaha Water Program (RWP) is promoting integration of local communities and the private sector from downstream and upstream Ruaha River for sustainable water access and use.
Ruaha Water Program (RWP) and Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB) of Tanzania are now finding solutions for the ‘Integration Challenge’ an initiative that will boost the local communities easy access to water resources and proper water usage’, said James Mturi, the WWF's RWP Coordinator, during the event held in Mufindi District, Iringa Region.
Mturi said more than promoting the ‘Integration’ within and among sectors, upstream/downstream with local people and the private sector the integration solutions are in respect to Climate Change adaptation strategies for sustainable water access, use and management.
The Guest of Honour was the Iringa Regional Commissioner Amina Masenza who was represented on her behalf by the Mufindi District Jowika Kasunga, congratulated the conservation partners who have designed the award which recognizes the efforts of citizens in preserving environment and preservation of water sources.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all citizens who have decided to participate in this award, as it demonstrated how they have been alerted to respond to this opportunity to recognition of your contribution in Environmental Conservation and preservation of water sources,” said Masenza.
Masenza said that the drying of water sources and the Great Ruaha River (GRR), is due to human activities along the river including irrigation, shifting cultivation, cultivating along the banks of rivers and aquifers (vinyungu), brick making near the river and its effects will intensify disaster in areas that rely on river.
She said that the drying up of the Great Ruaha River which is the lifeline of the economy, wildlife and the production of electricity at the dams of Mtera and Kidatu have already been experienced.
“There has been a significant impact on the Great Ruaha River due to human activities that cause river not flowing throughout the year. I believe that if we collaborate together as we begin conserving water sources our river will be able to flow year-round,” she said.
She said Climate change was in large part stem from the environmental damage caused by human activities such as burning forests with fire which leads to increased heat and carbon dioxide, deforestation and forest and leads to the drying up of water sources, floods like what happened in the area of Pawaga (Iringa).
“Today we enjoy an award for environmental conservation that its funds come from wildlife conservation with support from stakeholders in conservation. We need to protect our natural resources and promote tourism. The money that comes from tourism will help in some projects through Tanapa outreach program as well as desks, construction of laboratories, classrooms and or donor projects failed to be implemented;” she said.
She said the government recognizes the contribution in helping citizens to fight the challenges in their areas. “May I take this opportunity to advise all stakeholders to continue conservation team spirit as you demonstrated in this award,” she added.
However, RC has restricted all non environmental friendly human activities in all areas and the people who continue to destroy the environment in villages and water sources to be arrested and brought to justice.
“Let me now describe my joy in the way that citizens can have to realize the importance of preserving water resources, land, and tree planting activities as you mentioned in your speech. The issue of preserving the environment is very important for the welfare of our survival and development,” she said.
On the issue of poaching, she said the ongoing poaching in particular areas of elephants and other natural resources in reserves and is a major threat to our lives; we have to fight with the people involved in sabotage of our natural resources without oppressing it.
“I urge all leaders to continue to fight poaching in their areas including poachers expose their villages. Officials who are found to hide poachers are dealt with according to law. The issue of poaching of natural resources should reach the final.” Masenza elaborated.
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