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Environment:Importance of Environment in the economy of Tanzania is of four folds: it provides the basic resources for virtually all socio-economic activity in the country, it holds natural habitats, plants and animals that are art of an irreplaceable global heritage, waste receptacle and a foundation for eventual alleviation of abject poverty. It follows therefore that the major thrust of environmental management is protection of the natural living space of humankind and integration of environmental scarcity in making decision on all economic issues and activities. The government of Tanzania realised the danger facing such resources including clean air, fossil fuels, whales, hardwoods and endangered species by taking appropriate measures ranging from policy, legal framework and institutional arrangement which are conforming to socio-political and economic system. The government in collaboration with various stakeholders has put emphasis on promoting, strengthening and sensitising communities and individuals participation as a strategy to invigorate environmental conservation and management. Together with these there were awareness campaign, environmental education and skills development which complemented on various issues of environmental conservation and management. Emphasise for the environmental conservation and management is to raise the capacity and ability of the communities and individuals in sustainable management for own benefits and for the future generation. It is vividly that the efforts has raised the public awareness, interests and actions as more than 159 Community Based Organisations (CBO) and non-Governmental Organisations (NGOS) has been formed as well as private sector and individuals joining the process. Furthermore, the government and other collaborating institutions and agencies such as CBOs / NGOs are implementing various programmes both in rural and urban areas. The media institutions (radio, TV, press, newspapers) has played an significant role in sensitising and undertaking various education programmes on environmental issues thereby cultivating public / private interest, commitment and awareness on environmental management and conservation aspects. The government adopted sector policies related with forest; mineral, wildlife; fisheries; agriculture and livestock and land which put priority on conservation and management of resources and environment, raising public awareness and understanding of the linkages between environment and livelihood, and promoting international co-operation on environmental agenda. Current intervention are directed in implementing the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, Biodervesity Conservation, environmental friendly production practice sand abatement of pollution and strengthening both human resources and institution. It is clear that current global, regional and national environmental conservation and management are aiming towards overcoming poverty-related problems, diseases, food insecurity and insufficiency, filth shelter, unsafe water, inadequate energy supply and unemployment. Growing awareness of the general public and individuals advantages of sound environmental conservation and management forms the basis for sustaining the resources and environment. This goes together with implementation of sound strategies on poverty eradication as poverty is highly tied with unsustainable resources utilisation and environmental degradation and promotes joint gender efforts. Furthermore, the government has committed itself in environment conservation and management and poverty eradication with full support of individuals, CBO, NGOs and Donor Agencies. The
overall objectives of the National Environmental Policy 1997are: ·
To ensure sustainability, security and equitable use of resources
for meeting the basic need of the present and future generations without
degrading the environment or risking health or safety; ·
To prevent and control degradation of land, water, vegetation,
and air which constitute our life support systems; ·
To conserve and enhance our natural and man-made heritage,
including the biological diversity of unique ecosystems of Tanzania; ·
To improve the condition and productivity of degraded areas
including urban and rural settlements in order that all Tanzanians may
live in safe, healthful, productive and aesthetically pleasing
surroundings; ·
To raise awareness and understanding of the essential linkages
between environment and development, and promote individual and
community participation in environmental action, and, · To promote international co-operation on the environmental agenda, and to expand our participation and contribution to relevant bilateral, sub-regional, regional, and global organisation and programmes, including implementation of treaties.
National
Environmental Policy 1997, particularly stressed on the need for
formulating environmental legislation and sectoral legislation as an
essential component for effective and comprehensive environmental
management and improvement of life. Meaningful and effective
environmental law must be clearly understood and treasured by the
communities and individuals whom it is aimed. The legislation will set
out standards and procedures, duties and limits, create obligations for
all stakeholders, which will fit human activities and govern resources
sustainably. The government is on process of preparing such law. A
number of sectoral-related environmental legislation have been
formulated or reviewed. Examples:
Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries, Mining, Energy, Water, Lands, Local
Authorities and Urban Authorities. The
government is signatory and has acceded to a number of International/
Regional environmental treaties as follows: § Convention
on Biological Diversity ratified on 8 March, 1996; § Convention
for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal
Environment of the Eastern African Region and Related Protocols ratified
on 1 March, 1996; § United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification ratified April, 1997; § United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ratified in April, 1996; § The
Vienna Convention on the Protection of Ozone Layer and Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer acceded on 7 April, 1993 and
16 April, 1993 respectively; § Basely
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and their Disposal acceded on 7 April, 1993, and, § Bamako
Convention on Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes within Africa, ratified on 7
April 1993. Public
and Private Sector's
Role It is widely accepted that environmental management is everybody’s responsibility. The roles of the government institutions are to assist local communities to become aware of their own situation and support them to become responsible for their own destiny. Important is policy formulation, setting regulatory and institutional framework and promotion of education programmes. Furthermore, the government will be responsible with timely provision, updating generation and dissemination of accurate information related with environmental management. As stated in the National environmental Policy 1997 and concretised by Development Vision 2025 the local communities as well as business entities has the responsibilities of planning, implementing programmes / projects that are reflecting their needs and foster efficiency in resource utilisation including reuse, recycling and reduction of waste. In addition the private sector has the role of participating in different forum including policy and legal formulation process related with environmental management.
Environmental
management has received attention from many donor agencies than any
sector in Tanzania due to its importance to the rest of the economy.
Donor agencies contributing financial and technical resources are: DFID;
ICUN, GEF; WWF; FAO; WB; USAID; UNDP; UNEP, CARE, as well as Governments
of Finland, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The
Division of Environment has the following overall functions:- §
Formulation of policy on Environment §
Co-ordination and Monitoring of Environmental issues §
Environmental Planning §
Policy-oriented Environmental Research Division's
strategies and plans are: §
National Environmental Action Plan, 1994 §
National Plan for Agenda 21, 1993 §
National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, 1999 §
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2000 §
Coastal Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, 1995 §
Country Programme to phase out ozone depleting substances, 1996 §
National Action Plan on Climate Change, 1997 Contacts
Address:
Vice
President’s Office P.O.
Box 5380 Dar
Es Salaam, Tanzania Tel:
255-22-2113983
&
2113926 Fax:
255-22-2115297
& 2113082 E-Mail:
vpodoe@intafrica.com The
National Environment Management Council (NEMC) is under the Vice
President’s Office. The
main role of NEMC is to provide advice to the Vice President’s Office
on all matters pertaining to environmental conservation and management. The
National Environment Management Council – NEMC: National
Environment Management Council (NEMC) was established by an Act of Parliament No.19 of 1983 to perform an advisory
role to the government on all matters relating to environment
management. To respond to
the role, NEMC’s mandates subscribe to functions of promoting,
catalyzing overseeing and co-ordination of all issues pertaining to the
environment. NEMC’s
Vision: To
provide technical leadership for the application of environmental
practices for sustainable development. NEMC’s
Mission Statement: The
lives of Tanzanians are intimately connected to the environment, their
survival and that of future generations depend on the harmonious
relationship which natural elements.
Nevertheless, rapid demographic growth, urbanization, poverty and
ignorance have resulted in unsustainable farming methods, deforestation,
deterioration of aquatic resources and pollution thus upsetting the
delicate balance between environmental resources availability and
population recognizing the cross-cutting nature of environmental
problems, the need for improved environmental management and for all
Tanzania’s to participate in the efforts to reverse the present upward
trend of environmental degradation, the government established National
Environment Management Council (NEMC). Mission: National
Environment Management Council (NEMC) is the leading technical advisory,
co-ordinating and regulatory agency responsible for the protection of
the environmental and sustainable use of the natural resources in
Tanzania. It is responsible
in consultation, collaboration and partnership with other entities
concerned with environmental matters and the
public at large, for facilitating and promoting such measures as
necessary to help achieve an important quality of lives for Tanzanians. Functions: ·
Advise government on all technical matters for effective
environmental management. ·
Co-ordinate the technical activities of all bodies concerned with
environmental matters. ·
Enforce environmental regulations (Norms, standards, guidelines
and procedures). ·
Assess, monitor and evaluate all activities that have impact on
the environment. ·
Promote and assist environmental information, communication and
capacity building. ·
Seek advancement of scientific knowledge on the root causes of
the changes in the environment and encourage the development of
environmental sound technologies. Contacts
Address: National
Environment Management Council P.O.
Box 63154, Dar
es Salaam. TANZANIA. E-mail:
nemc@simbanet.net
nemc@nenactz.org Tel:
+255(022) 2134603
0741-608930/2323210 Fax:
+255 (022) 2134603 Website:
www.newctz.org Sokoine
University of Agriculture: Contact: Faculty
of Forestry, Morogoro,
TANZANIA. Phone:
255-023-263511 E-mail:
Forestry@hhettan.gn.apc.org,
Forestry@costach.gn.apc.org
The
Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI): Contact: P.0.
Box 1854, Morogoro,
TANZANIA. Tel:
255-023-2263725 National
Tree Seed Programme (NTSP): Contact: P.0.
Box 373 Morogoro,
TANZANIA. Tel:
255-023-2563192 Fax:
255-023-2563275 Forestry
Training Institute Olmotonyi: Contact: P.0.
Box 943, Arusha,
TANZANIA. Tel:
255-027-50441 Kunduchi
Fisheries Training Institute: Conducts
diploma courses on fisheries. These
courses include: marine engineering, fishing, fishery biology food
technology and nautical science. Contact
Address: Kunduchi
Fisheries Training Institute: P.0.
Box 60091, Dar
es Salaam, TANZANIA. Tel:
355-22-2650011 Mbegani
Fisheries Development Centre: Contact: Mbegani
Fisheries Development Centres, P.0.
Box 83, Bagamoyo,
TANZANIA. Nyegezi
Fisheries Training Institute: Contact: Nyegezi
Fisheries Training Institute, P.0.
Box 1213, Mwanza. TANZANIA.
Tanzania
National Parks (TANAPA) Contact: Tanzania
National Parks, P.0.
Box 3134, Arusha,
TANZANIA. Tel:
255-27-2508040 Fax:
255-27-2508216 E-mail:
tanapa@habari.co.tz Ngorongoro
Conservation Area Authority: P.0.
Box 1, Ngorongoro,
TANZANIA. Tel:
255-27-2504619 Fax:
255-25-2503339 E-mail:
ncaa-hq@yako.habari.co.tz Website: Tanzania
Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI): P.0.
Box 661, Arusha,
TANZANIA. E-mail:
harawiik@online.no College
of African Wildlife Management Contact: College
of African Wildlife Management, P.0.
Box 32031, Fax:
255-27-2551113 Moshi,
TANZANIA. E-mail: Website: Tourism
Sector: Tanzania
Tourist Board (TTB) Contact:
Tanzania
Tourist Board P.O.
Box 2485, Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA. Tel.
255 – 22 – 2110908, 2111244/5 and
2136105 Fax:
255 – 22 – 2116420 E-mail:
md@ttb.ud.or.tz or Safari@ud.co.tz Website:
http://www.tanzania-web.com/map/home.htn
Hotel
and Tourism Training Institute: Contact:
Hotel
and Tourism Institute P.O.
Box 9181, Dar
es Salaam, TANZANIA. Tel:
255-22-2112223
There
are numerous CBOs / NGOs consisting of Tanzania Wildlife Conservation
Society (TWCS) Dar Es Salaam, Malihai Clubs of Tanzania (MCT) – Arusha,
Lawyer’s Environmental Action Team (LEAT) – Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Environmental Society (TESO) -Dar Es Salaam, Journalists Environmental
Association of Tanzania (JET) - Dar Es Salaam and Centre for Energy
Environment, Science and technology (CEEST) - Dar Es Salaam among the
few. Additional list is attached.
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