National MAB Report Country: United Republic of Tanzania Focal Institution: National Environment Management Council (NEMC) Committee Chair: Engineer Bonaventure T. Baya Focal Person: Ms. Rose Sallema Mtui Reporting Date: May 2015 1 Efforts towards implementation of Madrid Action Plan Target Improved financial mechanisms for biosphere reserves and regional networks Activity 1. MAB activities were mainstreamed into the UNDP JP and UNDAP supported: One MAB Committee meeting in Tanga; the meeting that identified and agreed on 10 areas/sites potential for consideration to be nominated into the WNBRs. One Experts workshop to develop or brainstorm on the nature of the BR management framework was conducted (2011) Stakeholder consultations and working sessions to develop a management plan for the East Usambara BR (2011) Two training workshops on the BR nomination process in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, 2012 and 2013 respectively Three sites out of ten were prioritized to start with, for consideration to be nominated into the WNBRs Initial field visits/reconnaissance to three of the proposed sites (Biharamulo/Kimisi/Burigi Game Reserve, Saadani National Park and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park) (2012) After the initial visits, two of the three areas were reprioritized; i.e. Saadani and Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Parks in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar respectively One National MAB Committee meeting to endorse the proposal to start with the two sites to be nominated (14 th
February 2013) Initial stakeholder consultations to the two potential sites (Saadani and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Parks as well as TANAPA HQ in Arusha (2013). The consultations were mainly for TANAPA/SANAPA, Regional and District authorities and some Wards Development of Project concept notes to support the nomination process (2013) 2. Various efforts towards environmental and ecologically sound activities that is in line with green economy have been implemented: All the BRs in Tanzania are practicing eco-tourism as a source of revenue. Presence of conservation account in the EUBR Alternatives on Income Generation Activities (IGA) practiced by adjacent communities surrounding the BRs. o These include household milk production through zero grazing; sugar cane cultivation; spice cultivation like Cinnamon, Cloves, black pepper, ginger, butterfly farming (especially in the EUBR) A plan to develop a management plan for BRs was initiated in 2011 whereby in the EUBR it started with developing individuals forest blocks management plan before joining into one document. In this exercise, four (4) forested blocks management plan was developed. 3. Tanzania is one of the three Sub Sahara African Countries implementing project on Green Economy in BRs; others being Nigeria and Ghana. For Tanzania, it is being implemented in the EUBR, whereby, it was launched on 06 th December 2013 in Tanga region Transboundary Biosphere Reserve 1. Inception of the initiatives towards trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves:
The National MAB Committee identified and agreed on potential areas for trans-boundary BRs. These are: The Kilimanjaro Mt (Kilimanjaro Amboseli) (Tanzania and Kenya) Kimisi/Burigi Akagera (Tanzania and Rwanda) The Malagarasi ecosystem (Tanzania and Burundi) Selou Niasa (Tanzania and Mozambique) All these ideas and initiatives will depend on the availability of funds. Trained biosphere reserve managers and other relevant Stakeholders 1. One staff from the EUBR participated in a 3 weeks training on Assessment of Carbon stock in different land uses at Yayu Biosphere Reserve - Ethiopia; 2. One staff from the EUBR participated in a MAB workshop on African Biosphere Reserves in Dresden, Germany; 3. One staff attended the 1 st AfriMAB Bureau meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 4. Conducted a training on the use of GIS (Supper map) for BR management in the changing climate in Arusha, Tanzania 5. Stakeholders awareness raising workshop especially for the East Usambara BR in Tanga, Tanzania 6. Two training workshops on the BR Nomination Process were conducted in Bagamoyo and Zanzibar Integrated information & communicatio n strategy Mitigation relation climate change Exchanges in to 1. Maintenance of carbon sink within the forested blocks and encourage farmers to practice green economy 1. Participants to the Experts and Awareness raising workshops
between Biospherere Rerves Biosphere Reserves to have research programmes on analyses of ecosystem services and their management through stakeholder participation Analysis of zonation of all biosphere reserves as well as delegates/members of MAB National Committee meeting held in Tanga in 2011 had time to visit the East Usambara BR 1. The EUBR, specifically Amani Nature Reserve has joint research programme with ICRAF Nairobi Kenya on Domestication of the Allanblackia species (indigenous species, endangered, endemic to eastern arc and produces cooking fat utilized by local communities). 2. Researchers from difference places conduct their research in the BRs. 3. Amani Nature Reserves within the EUBR is a centre for Field courses on ecology and conservation of tropical ecosystem, whereby by 2013, nine courses had been conducted. 4. Various researches are on going the Lake Manyara and Serengeti-Ngorongoro BRs 5. Based on the aforesaid, the management authorities of Lake Manyara and Serengeti-Ngorongoro have developed a list of research need and priorities for these BRs with an intention to guide researchers interested in conducting research activities in the BRs. Tanzania is currently undertaking periodic review to her BRs The GEEUBR Project was adopted The MAB Focal Person participated in the Regional launching of the project which was held in September 2013, Accra, Ghana NEMC participated in the National inception and launching workshop for the GEEUBR which was held in Tanga Region on 6-7th December 2013 A Consultancy to undertake a Desk study on the Environment and Biodiversity status of EUBR could not be undertaken due to delays in funds disbursement The stakeholder Mapping and Consultation workshops at district level were conducted in Mkinga, Muheza and Korogwe districts The special National MAB committee meeting was held in Bagamoyo on 24th June 2014 to review the status of MAB activities in Tanzania. Market study analysis in the EUBR was conducted
Gender needs assessment activity GEBR project progress review meeting conducted. Afri MAB Workshop to MAB Managers on BRs management manual review Travel for Ghana workshop by December 2014 -review of GEBR Project and status of implementation - UNESCO country stakeholders meeting conducted by December 2014 -identification and preparation of MAB activities and roap map to its implementation One National MAB Committee meeting conducted by June 2015 -to review status of MAB activities in Tanzania Project proposal on Green Economy in the East Usambara Biosphere Reserve (GEEUBR) developed by June 2014 Environmental and biodiversity status of the East Usambara Biosphere Reserve established through a desk study by June 2014 Stakeholder Mapping and Consultations at District level Conducted by June 2014 One Special National MAB Committee meeting conducted by June 2014 GEBR project progress review meeting following UNESCO HQ mission conducted by July 2014 The GEEUBR Project was adopted The MAB Focal Person participated in the Regional launching of the project which was held in September 2013, Accra, Ghana NEMC participated in the National inception and launching workshop for the GEEUBR which was held in Tanga Region on 6-7th December 2013 A Consultancy to undertake a Desk study on the Environment and Biodiversity status of EUBR could not be undertaken due to delays in funds disbursement The stakeholder Mapping and Consultation workshops at district level were conducted in Mkinga, Muheza and Korogwe districts The special National MAB committee meeting was held in Bagamoyo on 24th June 2014 to review the status of MAB activities in Tanzania. GEBR project progress review meeting conducted. 3 National priorities for 2014-2021 Pending on the availability/accessibility to funding, Tanzania wishes to do the following among others: Organise more training on the nomination process to other Committee members and key institutions that could not participate in the 1 st and 2 nd ones; Submit to UNESCO at least two new proposals (Saadani and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Parks) to be considered for nomination into the WNBR; Participate/attend various international sessions related to MAB, Biodiversity and Climate change;
Continue building capacity by organising and attending to trainings (nationally and internationally) related to Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change; Develop and implement awareness raising programmes on the importance of Biosphere Reserves; Organise exchange visits to Biosphere Reserves within and outside the country; Prepare a special research and monitoring programme in both existing and potential Biosphere Reserves; Develop and/or upscale projects on green economy or alternative income generating activities in the BRs; and Conduct periodic reviews to the existing MAB sites. CHALLENGES It has been difficult to undertake MAB activities due to: Low level of awareness and/or understanding of the concept of Biosphere Reserves and its values; Inadequacy in data availability; and Funding! SPECIAL REQUEST UNESCO is being requested to assist in mobilising resources for MAB activities.