DC in Coast Region cautions over illegal logging in Ruvu South forest

BY GERALD KITABU,THE GUARDIAN

Kisarawe District commissioner, Fatuma Kimario

Kisarawe District commissioner Fatuma Kimario has warned members of natural resource committees in the villages within the district to stop engaging in illegal logging, timber harvesting and charcoal production in the Ruvu South Forest reserve.

 

She said it is very shocking to see and hear that the “watchdogs” of the forest reserve are the same people setting back the district’s move to protect and manage the reserve.

 

The DC gave the warning in Kisarawe during a meeting of sharing of survey results for Ruvu South forest reserve conducted by Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) in collaboration with Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania (Mjumita).

 

She directed the villages to make sure that they appoint well disciplined and patriotic members who have public interest at heart.

 

“If you go into the forest reserve today, you may shed tears on how the forest reserve has been degraded! I have the evidence that some of you members of this natural resource committee are doing this illegal business,” she said.

 

I think the government should work out plans to invite investors who would invest in animal zoo. I think this would be the best strategy of protecting our forest reserves because they will make sure that they protect these zoos and prevent these illegal loggers,” he said.

 

In another development, the DC advised the government to make sure that it subsidizes gas so that many ordinary Tanzanians who use charcoal and fire wood as their main source of energy can afford to ease pressure on the forest reserves.

 

Kibaha District forest manager, Fortunata Senya said that experience shows that some village natural resource committee members are not trusted at all when it comes to protecting the forest reserve.

 

“Sometimes these people are not trusted. They may give you full support today to arrest the illegal loggers and charcoal producers but immediately when you leave the forest reserve, they start colluding with other illegal loggers to facilitate the ill-gotten gains,” she said.

 

For their part, committee members, Subira Juma and Latifa Feli from Soga, Kibaha, told participants that some unfaithful government officials were in cahoots with a syndicate of powerful business tycoons to mow down the forest reserve.

 

The Members vowed to take to task any government official or village natural resource member who would be found colluding with the charcoal producers.

 

“I was born once and will die once! I don’t fear anything. I will work around the clock to make sure that any member arrested is taken to court immediately,” said Subira amid applause from the participants.

 

Earlier, presenting the research findings, the project manager, Elinas Monga and the forest condition and monitoring officer Justine Gwegime said the illegal logging and charcoal production activities have threatened disappearance of a number of rare species.

 

“The survey shows that the deforestation at Mtamba, Kola, Chakenge villages has disturbed these animals. Fire outbreak has also hurt the biodiversity at Kifuru and Kazimzumbwi,” said Gwegime.

For his part, Project manager, Elinas Monga said the survey results indicate that in 2003, there was a slight decrease of forest disturbances compared to 2011.

 

The researchers urged the village natural resource Committee (VNRC’s), village chairmen, foresters, Tanzania and Forest Service (TFS) to make sure that they commit themselves to protect and manage the forest reserve.