ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS ADVISED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

The environmental stakeholders pose for the group picture after the workshop which focused on assessing the activities implemented by various stakeholders in Mbarali River sub catchment for a period of five years coordinated by the WWF through its Ruaha Water Program (RWP) in conjunction with the RBWB. (PHOTO: FRIDAY SIMBAYA

NJOMBE: AS the world celebrates ‘World Soil Day’ (WSD) they must know that there is a direct connection between soil and environment.



WSD celebration tells us the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to the human commonwealth through its contribution to food, water and energy security and as a mitigator of biodiversity loss and climate change.



The World Soil Day campaign aims to connect people with soils and raise awareness on their critical importance in our lives.



In December 2013, the 68th UN General Assembly declared 5th of December as the World Soil Day.



Recently the environmental stakeholders were advised to protect the environment, hence stimulate awareness of environmental protection and enhance political attention and action.



The statement was issued by the community development officers (CDOs) from WWF-Tanzania, Martha Sanga and Evergris Makfura, while closing a workshop of stakeholders of water resources management and environment in Makambako, Njombe region.



They said at different times that citizens, stakeholders, environmentalists, politicians should protect the environment because it is everyone's responsibility.



They said that the issue of the water resources management and environment is not for donors, but it is everyone's responsibility to ensure environment is preserved.



WWF through its Ruaha Water Program (RWP) in collaboration with the Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB), district councils, citizens and environmental stakeholders implemented a five-year project of water resources management and environment, which aimed at restoring the state of the Great Ruaha River so the river water can flow throughout the year.



Martha and Makfura said that the preservation of water resources and environment should continue even without donors.



The workshop focused on assessing the activities implemented by various stakeholders in Mbarali and Ndembela sub catchments for a period of five years was coordinated by the WWF through its Ruaha Water Program in conjunction with the RBWB.



Officials from WWF Tanzania have urged stakeholders to preserve the environment and water resources by using the concept of inclusion.



They said that the Government has put legal framework as well as the adoption of the law of the Environment (2004), Water Resources Management No. 11 of 2009 and the water policy (July 2002).



Roy Kadege, who is also an accountant from one Water Users Association (WUA) in small river basin of Mpando in Wanging'ombe district, Njombe Region, said that the community will ensure that they regulates the whole issue of the management of water resources and the environment.



She said that although the project expires, they will continue to provide education on environmental protection in the area, hence protect the catchment.



She said that through the Ruaha Water program, the neighborhood of water users managed to provide education management of water resources and the environment in 20 villages surrounding the small valley of the Mpando River.



Kadege said that after the existence of the project they have been able to take care of water sources and restoring of River Mbarali in Mbeya region.



“The river was almost drying up due to various economic activities which was unsustainable but the presence of the project we have preserved the environment,” said Kadege.



And also Adamson Msigala, who is also chairman of the water users of Mpando river basin said that in order the exercise of management of water resources and the environment to be sustainable district councils should does allocate funds in their budgets for activities of environmental protection rather than relying donors.



He said that the poverty should not be a criterion to destroy environmental but people should work together and preserve the environment.



Msigala added that when they the WWF project came for the first time, they find it difficult to understand because they were used to cultivate the sources of water.



For his part, the District Wanging'ombe Community Development Officer, Njombe Region Michael Haule, who is also a district facilitating team (DFT) commended the WWF through the Ruaha Water Program and the Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB) for linking environmental stakeholders in order to their plans together.



He suggested also that in the future when there is such workshops involve the security forces and the courts to be able to identify water users associations that exist legally.



Haule said that without the involvement of these people, management of water resources and the environment will be tough because there will be interference between them and water users associations.



He said that there are times when certain water users associations arrested environmental destruction culprits of water sources but when taken to the police were released on the ground that their not law that galvanizes that issue.



He added that the RBWB meetings should make sure they invited anti-corruption institutions (PCCB), the police and the courts in order to identify the work of water users to fully manage the whole issue of water resources and the environment.