Family Alliance For Development And Cooperation, Tanzania

FADECO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT:

The overall objective of FADECO in environmental conservation is to contribute to the effective utilization and management of the natural resources in a sustainable manner. And for its project coverage, FADECO chose to operate primarily in two pilot wards: Nyakasimbi and Kimuli.

The following are the main aspects of the environmental conservation programme implemented by FADECO:

• Environmental education and extension

• Tree nurseries and tree planting

• Sustainable Income generating activities (Bee keeping)

• Conservation and management of natural / indigenous woodlands

• Watershed management and conservation of water catchment areas

• Fuel wood (energy) saving technologies

• Promotion of renewable energy technologies

1. Environment education

Aim: To sensitize the community in Nyakasimbi and Kimuli wards on environmental conservation.

Methodology:

a) Mirror extension through drama, songs, poems, and essay writing. On the UN environment days ( 5th June), participating groups to be drawn in a competition level and prizes awarded for effective participation. All performances documented on audio-video.

b) Best pieces of performances to be reproduced in WAZA newsletter or used in Fadeco's campaign in audiovisual shows or sent to radio/ TV broadcasters) Target groups: Primary schools, Secondary schools (if any available), community action groups, women groups, youths groups, individuals with talents.

Expected outputs

An enhancement of the awareness on environmental conservation with a target of 75% of the total population sensitized.

2. Tree nurseries and tree planting:

FADECO supports private tree planting and decentralized management of tree nurseries. Further, it supports the idea of household woodlots and not communal ownership of woodlots. In this endeavour, FADECO itself has managed tree nurseries since 1993 with support from CFDP-CHEMA and has been able to create 15 decentralized nurseries from its operations.

FADECO promotes agroforestry, and so wishes to remain at the forefront of doing so. It procures seeds from a number of sources including the district forest officer and CHEMA. Sometimes, quality seed is procured from KEFRI, Nairobi, Kenya. FADECO manages its own tree nursery at Nyakasimbi and supports groups in Kimuli wards with seeds and poly pots.

3. Sustainable Income generating activities (Bee keeping)

If farmers do not get immediate benefit from tree planting, they abandon it. That could explain (implicitly) why the bush fires have continued irrespective of the fact, a lot of tree are being planted and destroyed by fire. Yes, the farmers want to get something immediately and now. For the trees, they expect to harvest them for timber after 15-20 years. Are they patient enough to wait ?

Bee keeping to the farmers in Kagera region cost very little. There are a lot of swarms of bees looking for a shelter. Once you have a hive, you have the bees. If they fail to identify a suitable habitat, they will end up in your house, kitchen or in trees. Many deaths have been reported in Karagwe for instance of children swarmed by bees and stung to death.

What are the benefits of bee keeping to the farmer ?

• food (honey) (improve food and nutrition security)

• medicine (improve health standards)

• MONEY (improve household income)

• employment (creates jobs at low cost at all stages)

• pollination (increases crop yields due to cross pollination by bees)

• renewable energy (can make candles etc.)

..and so many other uses and benefits.

FADECO through its trading arm, has started dealing with the marketing of honey. Using its locally fabricated solar dryers, it is possible to purify honey to sufficient levels without use of expensive equipment.

4. Fuel wood (energy) saving technologies

FADECO here concentrates on capacity building and transfer of already proven fuel saving technologies. In this aspect, FADECO collaborates with specialized organizations in cooking stoves, and makes their products widely known among the communities we work with.

In the quarterly magazine published by FADECO called WAZA, one page is always reserved for a tested technology that is good for our people to adopt.

FADECO is endeavouring to make sure that all stakeholders are involved in whole process of environmental upkeep and conservation. The information centre provides reference and practical materials on environmental conservation in form of books, news letters, posters, video tapes.