Traditional Knowledge and Ecotourism for Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement of Community Livelihood

The Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (MJUMITA) has implementing a 12 months project (July 2020 to July 2021) known as “Traditional Knowledge and Ecotourism for Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement of Community Livelihood”. The project was implemented at Kizingata Village Forest reserve which is located at Zirai village, Amani Division, Muheza District in Tanga region. The Village is located about 60 km from Muheza town. The Kizingata Village Forest reserve is situated between Amani Nature Reserve and Nilo Nature Reserve. These nature reserve destinations are potential for different kind of tourism including eco-tourism, bird watching, hiking, butterfly watching, research studies just to mention few. Kizingata forest reserve is expected to have a total area of around 300 hectors. The forest reserve has a management plan and by laws that govern it. The management plan for the forest was developed in 2013 through assistance from Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), a Non-government organization specifically dealing with conservation of natural forests across Tanzania mainland.

The overall objective of the project was to improve biodiversity conservation and enhance the community members’ livelihood through livelihood strategy diversification. Specifically, the project has three aims to achieve by the end which include:

  • To improve documentation of the traditional norms that are used for biodiversity conservation at Kizingita forest reserve;
  • To build Capacity of forest management actors on application of the traditional norms and integrate legal forms in managing Kizingata forest reserve;
  • Establishing two (2) environmentally friendly income generating activities based on local knowledge and modern forms and;
  • Developing one (1) local ecotourism enterprise around Kizingata forest reserve.

The overall objective of the project was to improve biodiversity conservation and enhance the community members’ livelihood through livelihood strategy diversification. Specifically, the project has three aims to achieve by the end which include:

  • To improve documentation of the traditional norms that are used for biodiversity conservation at Kizingita forest reserve;
  • To build Capacity of forest management actors on application of the traditional norms and integrate legal forms in managing Kizingata forest reserve;
  • Establishing two (2) environmentally friendly income generating activities based on local knowledge and modern forms and;
  • Developing one (1) local ecotourism enterprise around Kizingata forest reserve.

Interventions used

Activities Performed under this Agreement:

  1. Developed and print guideline for the identified traditional norms for forest conservation
  2. Trained (80) forest management actors (41 male and 39 female) on traditional norms used in forest management
  3. Trained (80) (41 male and 39 female) on forest actors on uses of the current forest management plan and bylaw
  4. Trained 80 (28) pupils from primary schools and youth (52) from secondary school around the forest reserve on the traditional norms for forest management
  5. Practical/demonstration of traditional norms employed in conservation by elders to 80 forest management actors (41male and 39 female)
  6. 1Established butterfly farm
  7. 1 Established beekeeping farm
  8. Developed ecotourism enterprise to support tourism initiatives around Kizingata forest reserve

 

  1. Purchased 1 mobile phone, constructed 2 sign bodies and printed 250 brochures where they were handled to executive committee.
  2. Purchased and supplied campsite needs (7 tents and 7 mattresses)

 

Result archived

  • 1 guideline on traditional norms applicable for better management of Kizingata forest reserve was produced. The guideline contains all important traditional knowledge and practices employed by the elders in managing the environment including forest reserve and water resources
  • 163 community members were capacitated through trainings on application of traditional and legal forms in managing the forest reserve and water sources,80 (38 male and 42 female) were school children, where (28 were pupils from primary schools and 52(students (youth) from secondary school), 80 adult community members, where (41 male and 39 female). Also 3 teachers (3 male) responsible for environmental education from the respective schools participated the capacity building trainings.

 

  • Established 2 income generating activities (butterfly and beekeeping) around Kizingata forest reserve where the direct benefiries are 70 (29 male and 31 female) community members.2 of the male participants were disabled.

During the exercise of establishing the income generating activities the following components also were part and parcel

  • 35 community members (direct beneficiaries) (19 male and 16 female) were capacitated on butterfly farming techniques.
  • 35 Community members (direct beneficiaries) (15 female and 20 female) were capacitated on beekeeping techniques
  • 25 beehives were supplied to beneficiaries
  • 1 large butterfly cage for tourism was constructed and equipped
  • The 2 groups of beekeeping and butterfly were registered at district level as CBOs with well-defined constitutions
  • Ecotourism executive committee established for better operation of ecotourism activities around the forest reserve.
  • The 7 Committee members (4 female and 3 male) were selected for the Ecotourism Executive committee
  • The 7commitee members (4 female and 3 male) members were capacitated on governance and financial management.
  • The 4 community members (2 male and 2 female) were selected and trained about tourism hospitality hence they become local tour guides for the butterfly ecotourism.
  • The campsite facilities also were provided to community members including 7 tents and 7 mattresses and 2 sign bodies for directing the butterfly ecotourism centre were produced.
  • 250 brochures also were printed for advertising the butterfly ecotourism centre.

PROJECT DETAILS

Categories:
Client: UNDP
Location: Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania
Completed: 2021
Value: 47,916,800 TZS

PROJECT DETAILS

CONTACT

Old Bagamoyo Road, Plot No. 323, Msasani Village P.O. Box 21522, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

+255 784 416 063

mjumitaorg@mjumita.org

P.O. Box 21522, Dar es Salaam

Mon - Sat: 9:00 - 18:00