Bio-diversity

Context: Mt. Kilimanjaro plays important roles and critical ecological functioning. The mountain contributions to agriculture, forestry and tourism. Ecologically, Mt. Kilimanjaro constitutes the major watershed of Northern Tanzania. It is the source of water for domestic use, irrigation agriculture, and industrial activities and for generation of hydro-electricity. Natural forests on the mountain slopes are important habitats for diversity of flora and fauna. In addition, they provide sink for excess carbon in the atmosphere. The half mile forest strip (HMFS) is a narrow strip of forest buffering mountain adjacent villages and the mountain forest. Its width is approximately 0,8km or 0,5 mile hence its name half Mile Forest Strip . For a long time, HMFS has been considered a social forest. It is in this trip where the local communities extract forest products for domestic use. Of late, the HMFS seem to experience severe stress due to over use. The HMFS is encroached for agriculture, charcoal making, settlement, livestock grazing, and collection of fodder, lumbering and wood fuel. Furthermore, frequent forest fires are also known to degrade the HMFS. This project intends to empower local communities to better and sustainably manage the HMFS. The propone twill collaborates with LGA and KINAPA in the implementation of this project. This project has been endorsed by the Vice President s Office and the Moshi rural District Authorities. About the Proponent: The Tanzania Environmental Action Association (EACA) was established in 1989. It was registered in 1997 and incorporated under the NGO Act in 2006. Its principal objective is to sensitize local communities in tree planting activities on degraded patches of Mt. Kilimanjaro, The Half Mile Forest Strip. It is also disseminating environment education to communities that depend on natural resources for their livelihood and Youths in Primary and Secondary Schools. Project s Primary Objective: To promote sustainable management of the HMFS and alternative livelihoods improvement for a local communities that depend on natural resources for livelihoods

Tanzania