Kazimzumbwi and Pugu forests are critical for the
ecosystem services for the people in Dar es Salaam and its surrounding areas.
\”I find it outrageous and unbelievable that at this stage when the entire
world is crying for enhanced conservation some people at Ardhi are
tending to close their eyes and ears pretending not to see or hear.
The act of the survey team going to the forest to alter the original
forest boundaries is indeed intolerable. and frustrating the
conservation efforts.
I need your support and hope that through the public debate and outcry
we can save the forests. Also lots of pressure in the Mangroves, \” Dr. Felician Kilahama
Mkurugenzi wa Misitu na Nyuki
1.
Of recent times there has been some struggle from the Ministry of
Lands, Housing and Human Settlements trying to secure 200 plots from within
Kazimzumbwi forest reserve area. It is
amazing to see such thing happening when the world is trying hard to see
forests and woodlands becoming one of the major factors to enhance climate and
see the world becoming a better place to live for the present and future
generation.
2.
Kazimzumbwi was gazetted in 1954 when some us were still young and many
others not yet born. The colonialists of
that time found it a valuable area and decided to put under legal
protection. Surprisingly enough we the
rulers of today we do not see that value but we want to see houses within the
area. For the past few months we too
deliberate efforts: the MNRT in collaboration with the regional and districts
(Ilala & Kisarawe) leaders as with the support of the Regional and
districts Security Committees, managed to remove encroachers from the legally
protected area. Now with the MHHS move
to put 200 plots into the areas and moving fast to alter the forest boundary
for that sake is indeed an act that cannot be accept in the context of good
governance and respect of law.
3.
We need Kazimzumbwi forest now more than ever before. Climate is impacting on us thus forests are
urgently needed to help sequester CO2 from the atmosphere and become
important carbon sinks. Adding more and
more houses in the area means trouble to DSM dwellers as already they are
feeling negative impacts of climate change, which is fuelled by high
concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere. Why 200 plots there and not somewhere
else? There plenty of unreserved areas
around DSM and in the coast region then why Kazimzumbwi forest, which was
gazetted in 1954 when the population of DSM was quite low? One must remember that the purpose of
gazetting Kazimzumbwi forest was not to reserve an area for future plots but to
protect the catchment area for the rivers such as mpiji, Msimbazi and others
whose sources are within the water catchment forest of Pugu and Kazimzumbwi.
4.
What is being done to alter the boundary without even bothering its
original status or seeking our endorsement is an outrageous behavior by a few
greedy individuals in the system of government and want to cause unnecessary
outcry. The purpose of bring this issue
to your attention is to help me initiate a public debate or dialogue on this
aspect. I trust through the mediate we
can reverse unwanted decisions and outrageous actions that favor a few
individuals to take advantage over the majority. Kazimzumbwi forest is for the majority and
not for the few individuals hence we need to see more trees alive than being
dead. Miti mingi na wala siyo nyumba
nyingi.
5.
The government efforts to secure conservation of Kazimzumbwi forest are
being supported by the government of Norway through the Wildlife Conservation
Society of Tanzania (WCST). In that
context WCST is operating as a government partners in ensuring that Kazimzumbwi
is well restored and managed for the benefits of Tanzanians and global
communities as far as climate change is concerned. You can obtain details on this saga by
contacting the Kisarawe DC Mrs. Khanifa Karamagi who is also bitter about the
frustrating acts and conducts from the officials in the Ministry of LHHS. The entire leaders in the Coast Region
including the RC are not happy about this move and we need to see it stopped
immediately.