WWF moves to save water catchment areas
THE World Wide Fund for Nature (Tanzania) has donated over 100m/- for conservation programme of Tobora sub-catchment in Serengeti district, Mara region in efforts to save it from environmental degradation as a result of human activities.
An NGO which has been active with the programme in the District for the past 15 years has worked with the local community in seeing to it that the 58 km long sub-catchment keeps its water flowing to the Mara River that drains into Lake Victoria.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ the WWF Programme Coordinator for Mara Region, Mr Novat Kessy mentioned some of the alternative economic programmes that have been initiated in keeping the environment surrounding the sub-catchment as tree planting and beekeeping among others.
“WWF chose to introduce this programme as part of the national efforts that aims at seeing sustainable life of the Tobora sub-catchment and Mara River catchment and in so doing we have engaged the local communities who have joined forces to make it a successful venture,” he said.
According to Mr Kessy, WWF has worked in Serengeti District since 2003 with a number of conservation programmes that led to the establishment of the Tobora Water Users Association (TWUA) which works in 24 villages surrounding the sub-catchment area.
He said the local community received different training and capacity building programmes through the funding with the association working tirelessly to mobilise about 8,500 households in 24 villages surrounding the sub-catchment to receive basic skills on conservation.
Mr Kessy said although the programme in Serengeti was about to be phased out this year, WWF would still be around to make sure the community was able to apply the skills accordingly and sustain the programme.
“While we now focus on other demanding projects elsewhere in the region, we remain confident the Tobora water users association and the larger community will make these efforts sustainable for the good of the sub-catchment, Mara River catchment and more importantly the natural resources surrounding them,” he said.
The TWUA Chairman, Mr Lameck Nyasagati said the association now with 1,200 members has worked under the support from WWF to reach other villagers on conservation education calling for the government to make sure such programmes remained sustainable in the absence of the donor.
An NGO which has been active with the programme in the District for the past 15 years has worked with the local community in seeing to it that the 58 km long sub-catchment keeps its water flowing to the Mara River that drains into Lake Victoria.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ the WWF Programme Coordinator for Mara Region, Mr Novat Kessy mentioned some of the alternative economic programmes that have been initiated in keeping the environment surrounding the sub-catchment as tree planting and beekeeping among others.
“WWF chose to introduce this programme as part of the national efforts that aims at seeing sustainable life of the Tobora sub-catchment and Mara River catchment and in so doing we have engaged the local communities who have joined forces to make it a successful venture,” he said.
According to Mr Kessy, WWF has worked in Serengeti District since 2003 with a number of conservation programmes that led to the establishment of the Tobora Water Users Association (TWUA) which works in 24 villages surrounding the sub-catchment area.
He said the local community received different training and capacity building programmes through the funding with the association working tirelessly to mobilise about 8,500 households in 24 villages surrounding the sub-catchment to receive basic skills on conservation.
Mr Kessy said although the programme in Serengeti was about to be phased out this year, WWF would still be around to make sure the community was able to apply the skills accordingly and sustain the programme.
“While we now focus on other demanding projects elsewhere in the region, we remain confident the Tobora water users association and the larger community will make these efforts sustainable for the good of the sub-catchment, Mara River catchment and more importantly the natural resources surrounding them,” he said.
The TWUA Chairman, Mr Lameck Nyasagati said the association now with 1,200 members has worked under the support from WWF to reach other villagers on conservation education calling for the government to make sure such programmes remained sustainable in the absence of the donor.
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