Breaking the cycle: Morogoro communities find prosperity by protecting the mountains

Morogoro. Residents living near the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania have undergone a remarkable transformation, adopting innovative climate adaptation methods that benefit both their communities and the environment.

This change comes after years of practices that threatened the delicate mountain ecosystem.

The story unfolded in Msufini village, Mkula district, Kilombero district, where Norway’s ambassador to Tanzania, Toni Tinnes, visited to witness the success of climate adaptation projects funded by the Conservation Endowment Fund. Eastern Arc Mountains (EAMCEF).

During the visit, Ambassador Tinnes also inaugurated the honey processing, storage and sales facilities.

The projects worth Sh86 million aim to promote beekeeping for biodiversity conservation and improve the livelihoods of communities near the Udzungwa Mountains.

From burning forests to beekeeping businesses

Speaking to The Citizen, Wosia wa Baba Group secretary Rexoni Mtama said he was leading a group of 20 conservationists who started beekeeping in 2006 after raising Sh50,000 in the capital.

Mtama later said they obtained funding from EAMCEF which allowed them to increase traditional hives from five to 91, provide beekeeping education to members and distribute modern equipment for honey collection.

He said they then received modern hives, as well as specialized honey packaging equipment, scales, processing tools and a sales facility.

“In 2023, we managed to increase honey production to 450 liters. Since 2012, a total of 267,000 liters of honey have been harvested, generating Sh26.7 million for members,” he said.

“During this period, we have managed to support the establishment of another 14 groups by supplying 40 hives. We have also built a honey collection and processing center,” he added.

Additionally, the group has helped its members transform their economies, reduced indiscriminate forest burning, and contributed to the prosperity of the surrounding community by issuing insurance coverage to the less fortunate.

Agriwezesha director Degracia Ignas said that thanks to EAMCEF funding, the women have managed to implement the mushroom cultivation project in four areas of the Morogoro municipality.

“The women’s projects have significantly transformed the lives of residents economically. However, the projects aim to prevent and conserve the Udzungwa Mountains from degradation,” she stated.

“The women are helped to obtain mushroom production equipment, seeds, training and link them to markets after harvests,” she said, adding that the group started with 20 women.

Mbete Mushroom Farming Group chairperson Ms Zena Feruzi said her members began growing mushrooms indoors, thereby abandoning firewood collection and trading, an exercise that negatively destroyed the environment.

A member of the group, Ms Sikudhani Mustapha, said the project has enabled members to abandon previous activities that were damaging to the environment, especially mountains and water sources.

“Currently we have focused on managing our crops, increasing members’ profits as a kilogram of mushrooms sells for up to Sh10,000, which is relatively higher than traditional crops,” he explained.

Morogoro Region Natural Resources Advisor, who also acts as Regional Wildlife Officer, Mr Joseph Chuwa, emphasized the strong link between poverty and environmental degradation.

He underlined the importance of strengthening collaboration between the government and development partners in the implementation of economic projects aimed at addressing the challenge of environmental destruction.

“If the poverty of people living around the mountains is not addressed, the country will not be able to achieve its planned conservation goals,” he said.

“What comes from these mountains, including water and food, benefits all Tanzanians; Therefore, too much emphasis should be placed on increasing collaboration between stakeholders,” he added.

Kilombero District Commissioner Dunstan Kyobya praised the implementation of the projects, stating that they have significantly promoted biodiversity conservation.

The executive director of the fund, Francis Sabuni, stated that the fund has disbursed 13 million dollars in the last 12 years (2011-2023) for the implementation of different projects.

He said of the amount funded, Sh8 billion was allocated for the implementation of conservation projects, and Sh4 billion, equivalent to 50 per cent of the funds, was directed towards community projects aimed at alleviating poverty and generating income.

Furthermore, Sabuni said that 35 percent of the funds were allocated to conservation and protection efforts, while the remaining 15 percent went to research projects carried out by research institutions and universities.

“We support conservation efforts through several projects, including initiatives to preserve and protect conservation areas in the Eastern Arc Mountains,” he said.

He said they are currently working on nine areas, including eight natural environmental reserves in the Eastern Arc Mountains and one national park in every 12 local government authorities (LGAs) in Tanzania.

“We implement community development projects to reduce poverty among the communities surrounding these areas, as poverty is the number one enemy of environmental conservation,” he said, adding that the projects help citizens alleviate poverty. .

He said forest fire incidents have decreased significantly in the funded areas due to discouragement of human activities.

Mushrooms, not mountains: women find a new source of income

Rosemary Boniphace, EAMCEF’s project manager for the southern zone, said one of the fund’s strategies was to empower women’s groups living near mountain reserves.

“We believe that once women are empowered, the entire community will gain the ability to focus on conservation issues. We use the project to educate citizens about the importance of conservation and provide them with alternative livelihoods,” she said.

“Many of these women used to rely on firewood collection and stone quarrying to sustain their lives, which raised huge environmental concerns. However, this project asks citizens to grow mushrooms and earn money as an alternative,” he added. .

During the event, the Norwegian ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Tinnes, reiterated his government’s commitment to continue collaborating with Tanzania in the implementation of different projects in conservation, climate change mitigation, tourism and agriculture, among others.

“We are pleased to see the changes brought about by Norwegian-funded projects, including those that promote a clean energy agenda,” he said, pledging to strengthen cooperation.