Conserving 250,000 Acres of Tanzanian Rainforest

Increased wealth for 3,000 households through sustainable income activities!

More than 5,000 are benefiting directly from the livelihood activities supported by the project with the largest number of beneficiaries engaged in the Village Saving and Loan Association's (VSLA) work.  

VSLA: 3,972 people (2,391 women and 1,581 men) from 159 groups found in 25 villages are actively participating in VSLAs, which has exceeded the targeted 3000 households by far. 

Conservation farming: A total of 756 farmers (312 women, 444 men) from 18 villages have been supported by the project through training and provision of farm inputs for use in their own farms. 

Beekeeping: 129 people (52 women, 77 men) from 3 villages are participating in 7 beekeeping groups. 109 households cumulatively earned TZS 1,780,000 from beekeeping as a result of project support. 

Allanblackia nuts: 285 people (160 women, 125 men) from 7 villages who are engaging in the Allanblackia nut trade, are now benefiting from the training  conducted and materials provided to them during the last reporting period. The groups have sold 49,078 kg of nuts and earned more than TZS 29 million.

Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) 

-  2,914 villagers (1,445 women, and 1,469 men) people living in Gonja and Diburuma Villages are on track to benefit from sustainable forest management as a result of establishing Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs) in their villages. 

- 2,635 villagers (1,303 women, and 1,332 men) in Masimba Village are on track to benefit directly or indirectly from the establishment of charcoal and timber forest management units including harvesting coupes. 

- Some Village Natural Resource Management Committees (VNRCs) in CBFM villages have earned revenues from fines paid by offenders found in VLFRs. Ndole Village VNRC earned TZS 780,000 from fines. The money was used in the construction of school desks which is still going on. Makuyu Village VNRC earned TZS 270,000 from fines paid by outsiders who  were found grazing in their VLFR.  The money collected was used in paying salaries for the two watchmen for their dispensary and the school for three months. Magunga village collected TZS 100,000 from fines for VLFR boundary markings and also cutting down a tree near a water source/river bank. The money, together with 70 pieces of timber harvested in VLFR were used in making school desks.

Joint Forest Managment (JFM) Villages

- VNRCs in JFM villages around Mkingu NR also earned TZS 1,260,000 from fines from offenses in the nature reserve as follows: Mkindo: TZS 30,000; Ubiri TZS 50,000; Digalama TZS 805,000; Semwali 320,000; and Mkindo Bungoma TZS 55,000.