MORE than 200m/- is set to be invested in providing environment conservation education and expanding community forests across various parts of Tanzania.
The Executive Director of the Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania (MJUMITA), Ms Rahima Njaidi said recently shortly after returning from London, where she received the prestigious TUSK Award for Conservation Excellence that the fund will be used for improving education on environment issues.
She was awarded the award, which is one of the world’s top honours in wildlife and environment protection.
It was presented recently in London by Prince William, President of the TUSK Trust, in recognition of outstanding conservation leaders delivering large-scale impact across Africa. Ms Njaidi made history by becoming the first Tanzanian to win the TUSK Conservation Award, rising above a shortlist of 13 distinguished finalists from different African countries.
She said what distinguishes MJUMITA from many other conservation initiatives is its unique model of integrating forest protection with community development, rather than treating forests as isolated ecological spaces.
“We do not talk about conservation for its own sake. We focus on how communities living near forests can benefit from their own resources. We ensure forests are protected, but we also make sure they bring direct, tangible benefits to the people who own and manage them,” she noted.
Ms Njaidi insisted that MJUMITA’s success lies in its approach of building community ownership and accountability, empowering citizens especially women and young people to protect forests while promoting cleaner and alternative energy solutions.
She emphasised that one of the biggest threats to Tanzania’s forests remains the heavy dependence on charcoal and firewood, particularly in rural and urban areas where many households and small businesses rely on forest products for energy and income.
“Many families cut trees for firewood. Others produce charcoal for commercial purposes, while some clear forested areas for new farms once their older fields lose fertility. These pressures continue to accelerate deforestation,” she explained.
Despite such challenges, Ms Njaidi stressed that MJUMITA does not ignore the economic realities facing communities, acknowledging that people must meet their needs for food, income and daily survival.
Ms Njaidi added “we recognise that communities must live, eat and earn an income. That is why we help them carry out their activities sustainably, without destroying their forests.”