DAR ES SALAAM: WORLD Wide Fund (WWF) Tanzania has officially launched its five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP-III), backed by a substantial financial commitment of 150bn/- to tackle Tanzania’s urgent environmental challenges, including natural resource degradation, biodiversity loss and the increasing vulnerability of local communities.
The strategy seeks to create long-term, sustainable solutions by focusing on integrated conservation efforts across key landscapes and seascapes. Central to this plan is the empowerment of local communities, giving them the tools and support to take an active role in managing the resources on which their livelihoods depend.
The CSP-III prioritises halting the degradation of Tanzania’s natural resources, with a specific focus on protecting the nation’s diverse ecosystems, which include critical forest and marine habitats, as well as vital freshwater systems.
The strategy places equal importance on ensuring that conservation efforts go hand-inhand with improving the socioeconomic well-being of communities. This approach aims to promote the sustainability of both the environment and the people who rely on it.
At the heart of the new strategic plan is a shift towards community-led conservation, recognising that local communities are not just beneficiaries of conservation programmes, but key stakeholders in managing and protecting their natural surroundings.
WWF Tanzania’s Country Director, Dr Amani Ngusaru, emphasised that the success of this strategy hinges on empowering people to manage their natural resources in ways that align with both ecological health and economic development.
“The future of Tanzania’s natural heritage is directly tied to the involvement of local communities,” Dr Ngusaru said. “Our strategy is not just about saving nature; it’s about securing a future for both people and the environment.”
This focus on community participation is pivotal. By involving local populations in the decision-making processes and resource management, WWF aims to build stronger, more resilient ecosystems that can withstand the pressures of climate change, habitat loss and unsustainable practices.
The goal is to foster a sense of ownership among communities, where conservation becomes an integral part of their lives and livelihoods, rather than a distant, top-down initiative.
The 150bn/- allocated for the CSP-III is a major commitment to addressing the challenges facing the country’s key ecosystems. The funding will be directed towards initiatives such as habitat restoration, species protection and climate change resilience.
This large-scale investment will also target the reduction of carbon footprints across key sectors such as agriculture, energy and fisheries.
WWF Tanzania has identified four priority landscapes and seascapes for intervention: Ruvuma Transboundary Landscape, Soknot Transboundary Landscape, Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa (RUMAKI) Plus Seascape and Water Towers Landscape. These areas are crucial for the conservation of species and ecosystems and they represent WWF’s primary focus for the next five years.
Each of these landscapes has been carefully selected based on its ecological importance, as well as its ability to support community livelihoods.
For instance, the RUMAKI Seascape includes critical coastal habitats such as mangroves and coral reefs, which not only protect coastal communities from erosion but also support marine biodiversity, including endangered species like sea turtles and whale sharks.
Similarly, the Ruvuma Transboundary Landscape is home to vital habitats for species like elephants, lions and wild dogs and the strategy will work to reduce human-wildlife conflict and promote sustainable land-use practices.
The plan also places significant emphasis on integrated landscape management, recognising that ecosystems are interconnected. Effective conservation requires a holistic approach that links terrestrial and marine environments, ensures ecological connectivity and addresses the challenges posed by climate change.
WWF Tanzania will work to restore degraded ecosystems, conserve biodiversity and improve the resilience of communities to climate-related impacts.
Tanzania has long faced environmental challenges, including high rates of deforestation and the decline of wildlife populations. The country loses approximately 469,000 hectares of forest annually, contributing to the wider issue of forest loss in Africa.
Additionally, marine ecosystems have been under pressure, with significant losses in mangrove forests and coral reefs, both of which are critical for biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
WWF Tanzania’s Conservation Manager, Dr Lawrence Mbwambo, outlined these concerns at the launch event, highlighting that the country’s freshwater ecosystems: rivers, lakes and wetlands are also facing degradation.
These ecosystems are vital for water supply, agriculture and fishing and their deterioration threatens the livelihoods of millions of Tanzanians. WWF Tanzania’s CSP-III addresses these issues directly, with strategies to restore freshwater habitats, improve water management and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The success of the CSP-III will depend not only on WWF’s efforts but also on the collaboration of various stakeholders, including the Tanzanian government, development partners, the private sector and local communities.
Dr Ngusaru stressed that no single entity can achieve the ambitious goals set out in the strategy on its own. “Government leadership is essential in providing policy direction and regulation,” he said. “But to truly succeed, we need partnerships with the private sector and civil society to mobilise resources, share knowledge and implement innovative solutions.”
WWF Tanzania has been working closely with government institutions to align its conservation efforts with national development priorities, including Tanzania’s Vision 2050, which aims to achieve inclusive economic growth while protecting natural resources. The private sector also plays a critical role in providing sustainable financing, while development partners contribute through technical expertise and support.
The overarching goal of WWF Tanzania’s CSP-III is to create a sustainable, resilient future for both people and nature. By empowering communities to manage their natural resources and involving them in decisionmaking, WWF hopes to establish conservation practices that are both effective and locally rooted.
This community-centred approach is expected to not only improve biodiversity conservation but also provide tangible economic benefits, such as increased food security, better access to water, and the creation of sustainable livelihoods.
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Severin Kalonga, Lead of the Forest Landscape Restoration Africa Initiative, underscored the importance of integrating environmental protection into national development strategies.
“Conservation is not just about saving the environment; it’s about building resilience for both people and nature in the face of climate change and economic uncertainty,” Dr Kalonga explained.
By ensuring that conservation is seen as an enabler of development, WWF Tanzania aims to shift the narrative around environmental protection. The new plan will demonstrate that the health of the environment and the prosperity of communities go hand in hand, with the potential for long-term economic and social benefits.