Last Saturday TNRF provided a training sessions on natural resource issues to the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment in Dodoma. The training covered two major areas - climate change and pastoralism, and forest governance, specifically focusing on independent forest monitoring. The training also touched on the constitutional review process as well as conflict mediation efforts in light of climate change in Tanzania's drylands.
There was a general consensus among the committee members that there is a knowledge gap that contributes to undermining pastoralism, forestry governance and climate change issues. They understand that there are serious challenges in the natural resource sector, but without the right information it is hard to know where to focus their attention. Therefore, the committee was very pleased with the training and they requested more ongoing learning opportunities that will better help them understand the challenges - and opportunities - on the ground and where policy interventions really matter.
Specifically, the committee agreed to prioritize identifying ways to deal with forestry issues over the remaining parliamentary period and will include independent forest monitoring as an agenda item. The committee also feels that the government and the committee itself need to ensure that rangelands are better conserved.
Following the training and discussions, the committee and TNRF agreed on ways to continue engagement so that ongoing attention is brought to these issues. The committee requested more trainings from TNRF and also requested that TNRF carry on providing information related to natural resource governance issues, specifically they would like more information on REDD+ in Tanzania. The committee also agreed to engage with more stakeholders in seeking solutions to natural resource governance and climate change issues in Tanzania.
