Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (MJUMITA) in English also known by “The Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania”. MJUMITA is an independent NGO, legally registered in 2007 under NGO act of 2002. It is a network of over 112 local community-based organizations (CBOs) with over 15,000 members in the villages involved in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) across Tanzania. The network provides a forum for capacity building, exchange of knowledge, advocacy and communication for across these groups and PFM villages in Tanzania. MJUMITA’s members are existing in 13 regions, 30 districts, 143 wards and 452 villages representing around 500 forest based local community groups and village forest management institutions under PFM programs. The network was established as a must need of communities living around natural forests across Tanzania in order to exchange knowledge and experiences related to PFM and as well, to liaise with Beekeeping Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to contribute to policies and laws related to forests and their implementation.
MJUMITA is also an instrument strategically created to air out voices of the communities living around natural forests in Tanzania to forest related authorities on issues of sustainable forest management. The network has successfully advocated for the improvement of good governance on forest sector in the country. MJUMITA is committed to enhance the cooperation and relationship focused on improving the capacity of its members to fully engage on management and conservation of their forests, to improve the ownership and sustainable land and forest use for the benefit of the community. MJUMITA has a governing board which also incorporate representatives from community members from six zones of MJUMITA and this board is selected by MJUMITA members in every 3 years on the general meeting of all members.
Since its establishment, MJUMITA has been working in collaboration wit other stakeholders which include central government, district councils, village governments, and other civil society organizations working on the related focal areas i.e. forests in order to enhance the capacity of the communities living around natural forests to benefit with their forest resources. MJUMITA is also a member of Tanzania Forest Working Group (TFWG) and it also cooperate with other international partners in response to climate change impacts which is a challenge especially for the vulnerable communities in rural areas.