This week from 6^th to 10^th May 2013, TNRF has organized training on pastoralism and rangeland production systems to representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and local communities in Babati district. This training is part of the Pastoralist Program implemented jointly by CARE and TNRF. The training is aiming to equip sub-grantees under the programme, pastoral CSOs and local governments' authorities with skills to effectively implement the pastoral development projects.  The training intends to realize the following objectives:

• To enable participants from implementing CSOs, LGAs and local leaders to define and internalize concept of pastoralism for better management of resources and livelihood.
• To equip participants with knowledge and skills on pastoral systems, policy analysis and advocacy.
• To familiarize participants with approaches and steps to follow when doing policy analysis and evidence-based advocacy at the local level.  
• To enable the organizations in the training practice, integrating and accommodate pastoral systems into natural resources management initiatives in their respective localities for betterment of pastoral livelihoods.
• To enable participants understand the challenges in the pastoral livelihoods systems in Tanzania.

On Thursday, May 30th, 2013, USAID aims to hold an online High-Level Roundtable to share the results from a 4-year CBNRM stocktaking process and to discuss the potential for integrating CBNRM into national development strategies, plans, and policies in Southern Africa as an integrated approach to development. 

On 25^th March 2013, TNRF in collaboration with TMF conducted training to journalists with an aim of educating on the status of land, investment laws and policies in Tanzania so that they are conversant and can cover issues with authority. The training also covered on the component of investigative journalism.

Today is the first United Nations designated International Day of Forests. While TNRF and our partners celebrate and honor the importance of forests everyday - with our work and programs targeted at improving forest governance - we would like to acknowledge this day as an important international event. We spoke with our forest officers to hear what they have to say about the importance of forests:

Cassian Sianga, TNRF Senior Forestry Officer - "One of the key issues is that more that 90% of the population in our country depends heavily on forests for their livelihoods. There is every reason for professionals to assist communities get maximum benefits from these forests in a sustainable way. This should be done in a manner that will reduce the rate of degradation. The demand for forest resources is continuously increasing and dependency on them is also increasing because communities have limited alternatives.

It is high time therefore, for civil societies to empower communities in the management and utilization of these resources through Policies, Acts and Guidelines. Civil societies have a role to play here as government alone cannot do it. Let us commit ourselves to work with the rural communities as most of the civil society organizations in forestry are working in the rural areas." 

Gwamaka Mwakyanjala, Mama Misitu Campaign Manager - "Empowering local communities and their institutions is key to combating illegal harvesting of forest resources in Tanzania.... Citizens should be facilitated to manage forestry resources for the current and future benefits."