Reducing charcoal’s threat to biodiversity
Government mainstreaming of sustainable charcoal production in energy-sector policy tools
Project Objectives
The project aims to:
- Provide policy makers in the Energy, Forest and Agriculture sectors with reliable information about the relative impact of different deforestation drivers.
- Promote policy solutions for Tanzania’s ongoing deforestation crisis.
- Support Kilolo District to adopt a sustainable harvesting plan.
What is driving deforestation in Tanzania?
The average annual deforestation rate for mainland Tanzania was 469,000 hectares between 2002 – 2013, according to figures published by the Government of Tanzania. In order to adopt effective national policies to reduce deforestation, it is important to understand the causes of deforestation.
Conversion of forests to agricultural land is known to be the main driver of deforestation in Tanzania, whilst unsustainable charcoal production has contributed to widespread forest degradation. However, reliable data on the degree to which different drivers of deforestation and forest degradation contribute to the problem, is not available. This has led to policies focused on curbing charcoal production without addressing the more widespread problem of forests being converted to agricultural land.
There is an urgent need to adopt policies that incentivise forest land-owners, particularly rural communities, to retain forest on their land. Policies such as community-based forest management have been successful in reducing deforestation, particularly where communities earn revenues from sustainable charcoal and timber production.
Project Approach
Promoting policy solutions to address deforestation in Tanzania
The project will generate current, relevant and accurate information on the relationship between charcoal production, biodiversity conservation and deforestation. This will involve field visits to more than 100 deforestation sites across the country in order to determine the cause of deforestation at each site.
Results will demonstrate the relative impact of different deforestation drivers in Tanzania. Policy implications will be presented. Currently,71 % of households use biomass as their primary cooking fuel. However, Tanzania’s energy policy excludes objectives on sustainable biomass energy supply. The project will advocate for a Biomass Energy Policy that contributes to more secure energy supplies; reduced deforestation; and improved rural livelihoods.
Developing a sustainable harvesting plan for Kilolo District
Sustainable harvesting can contribute to improved forest management, and reduced deforestation. As part of the project’s commitment to finding policy solutions, TFCG will support Kilolo District Council to adopt a District Harvesting Plan based on sound data and harvesting principles. This will involve capacity building for local government and communities on sustainable woodland management; stakeholder consultation in the development of the plan; and an assessment of the available forest resources on village land and in Local Government Forest Reserves.
The scope of the plan will be the woodlands that buffer the high biodiversity forests of the Udzungwa Mountains. Improving the conservation of the high biodiversity evergreen forests will be promoted.
Project overview
The project is financed by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
Duration: The project will operate for 21 months from January 2018 – September 2019.
Location: the project has a national scope. Field teams will be visiting Districts and villages across mainland Tanzania in order to collect data on deforestation events. In addition, the project will support Kilolo District to develop a District Harvesting Plan. Kilolo District includes part of the Udzungwa Mountains Key Biodiversity Area.
Stakeholder engagement
The project will work with many different stakeholders. These include the National Carbon Monitoring Centre, the Tanzania Forest Services Agency, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Ministry of Energy, Kilolo District Council and the District and Village authorities where field surveys will be implemented.
The results of the project will be widely communicated through meetings, publications and the media.