This document provides an overview of the Mgori Forest community-based natural resource management program in Singida District, Tanzania. It describes the biophysical characteristics of the Mgori Forest and the establishment of the community management program in 1995 with support from external donors and consultants. The program has been largely successful, with forest regeneration occurring and returns of wildlife. However, some ongoing issues include lack of formal approval of village bylaws, boundary disputes with neighboring districts, and lack of resources for forest patrols and protection activities. Effective governance, addressing economic needs, and sustainable biophysical management are keys to the long-term success of the program.

1. MWENGE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
MWECAU
DEPARTMENT: GEOGRAPHY
COURSE TITTLE: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
COURSE CODE: GEO 310
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: NASSANIA YESSAYA
FIDELIS MAHENGE T/DEG/2014/0733
TASK:
CITING RELEVANT EXAMPLE CRITICALLY ANALYZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
COMMUNITY BASED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA.

2. Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
The essence of the project .................................................................................................................2
Biophysical of the Mgori forestry..................................................................................................3
The success ofMgori forestry- Community Based Forest Management Program.............................3
Governance ofMgori forestry- Community Based Forest Management Program ........................3
The problems facing Mgori forestry- Community Based Forest Management Program...................4
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................5
References.........................................................................................................................................6

3. SINGIDA COMMUNITY-BASED MGORI FOREST MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Forest, located in Singida District in the Great Rift Valley, covers 400 km2 in the wildlife corridor
to the Swaza Game Reserve in neighboring Hanang District. Mgori Forest is an open miombo
woodland dominated by Brachystegia species. Animals include: list ground pangolin The forest
extends into neighboring districts where communities have not yet established community
management regimes.
Five villages (Pohama, Ngimu, Unyamanda, Mughunga and Nduamghanga each with
approximately 250 households, in two different wards) have asserted their control over Mgori
Forest in Singida District. The forest and villages are scattered in an area approximately one hour
from Singida on poor roads. Ethnic/pop figures? Crops include maize, sorghum, finger millets,
sunflower, cassava, sweet potato, and beans. Beekeeping is also an important economic activity.
Items harvested from the forest include: list. Important medicinal plants are traditionally harvested
in ways that maintain.
The essence of the project
In 1995, these villages resisted the physical demarcation of a new national forest. The Swedish
SIDA LAMP project funded external consultants to assist government to find a way to resolve the
conflict. The consultants recommended creating a process to grant villages responsibilities for
looking after the forest. The District Forest and District Game officers accepted the
recommendation and ceased selling licenses to outsiders to harvest timber and kill animals in
Mgori Forest. Initially the Director of Forestry, however, did not support the concept. When a new
Director of Forestry took office and visited Mgori Forest, the villages’ forest management receive
his approval. Following that decision, the Director of Forestry called a meeting of all Regional
Forest Officers to discuss changing forest policy to include provisions for community based
forestry.
Donor involvement was central to this shift in policy Twenty-two villages around Minyughe Forest
received directives from DFO to establish Village Forest Reserves in 2001. Each village council
was ordered to establish a committee for forest management, hold a meeting with Village
Assembly to explain forest management, identify a Village Forest Reserve, make by-laws, and
make a management plan and send it to District Council for approval.

4. Biophysical of the Mgori forestry
The forest is zoned in three zones. Zone one is the place where villagers can harvest firewood, day
to day needs for forest produce, building poles, thatch grasses, mushrooms and vegetables. The
second zone provides larger building poles and place for beehives. The third zone (most distant
from residences) provides more beehives, timber and wildlife habitat. The number of “forest
offenses” has radically decreased over the past five years since the forests were demarcated, and
forest regeneration is evident to the eye.
The success of Mgori forestry- Community BasedForest Management Program
Today Mgori Forest has been saved. In February 1995 it was disappearing. Many areas were being
cleared by shifting cultivation. Nearly all the good timber had gone. Fires damaged the forest every
dry season. At the time of writing (April 1999), the forest was in very good condition. Game has
returned in big numbers and species that had disappeared have returned. Now, instead of having
no wild meat, villages have a new problem – elephant damage to their fields. They are now trying
to decide how to deal with this.
Governance of Mgori forestry- Community BasedForest Management Program
Village forest committees (VFC) were established, Village Forest Management Plans were drawn
up, with bylaws limiting forest use approved by District Council and the donor assisted each village
to demarcate its part of the forest with paint and beacons. Initially there were boundary problems
between villages, but over time the boundaries were accepted. The transparency and working
relationship District Council has not been particularly good. Neighboring villages accept right
/power of village to patrol its forest and collect fines according to its own bylaws. Financial
management is transparent, but few expenditures have been made, given the small size of their
funds. Budgets are discussed in Village Assembly. Village Assembly in one village decided that
half of revenue went to village government, other half to VFC for operating expenses. Role of
VFC is to protect forest, collect revenue from culprits, and control forest offtake. Meets once a
month.

5. The problems facing Mgori forestry- Community BasedForest Management Program
There have been many obstacles along the way. Each has had to be overcome. A list of problems
faced includes the following.
 It was difficult to persuade the government to allow the villagers to become the managers and
owners of the forest.
 The villagers drafted by-laws but the district council has not yet approved them, so the rules
being applied do not have legal backing.
 A neighboring district is jealous and is now claiming one-third of the forest as its own. The
district council is not always supportive.
 Often the liaison officer does not have the resources he needs to move around the area to help
the villagers, who are poor.
 The forest is very large. It takes the patrols a full day to reach the middle of a village forest
reserve. The patrolmen have no money for boots and whistles and bows and arrows to protect
themselves. One has been bitten by a snake.

6. Conclusion
GovernanceNatural resource committee should be legitimate and transparent. Bylaws are essential
for effective participation. CBNRM incorporates local knowledge of elders and those most
knowledgeable about the forest and wildlife. So they are competent and have confidence and trust
of others. For Impact of capacity building for government agents and committee. Training in
bookkeeping and scout work is essential.
Economics Expectation of future benefits outweigh costs labor investment for protection with little
financial benefit currently. Subsistence benefits are valued. also labor requirements must fit into
existing workload. Recognition and awards motivate people encourage people to work hard and
participate fully.
Biophysical Protection from cutting and hunting produces visible regeneration of forest. Hence to
succeed in fulfilling the need of the future generations and sustainable long term availability of
Mgori forest and various ecosystems in it biophysical components must be maintained and avoid
misuse of them.

7. References
E, W. ( 1996). Collaborative forest management: villagers and government. The case of Mgori
Forest,Tanzania. Rome:FAO.
Institute, W. R. (1994). World Resources Report . A Guide to the Global.
Massawe,E. (1997). Community management of Mgori Forest, Tanzania. Bangkok.
Mssawe,E. (1997). External donors and community-based management of Mgori Forest. Dares salaam.