|
Villagers` plea on Moro forests
2005-07-12 07:49:52
By Guardian Correspondent, Morogoro
Villagers in Kiroka Ward, Morogoro District, have asked the district council to transfer to them the ownership and management of Pangawe East and Mkungwe forests.
This would enable them take good care of the forests and benefit from the resources, they told District Executive Director Maurice Sapanjo during the handing over of two new classrooms at Lukonde Village recently.
The classrooms have been built at Kiroka and Lukonde primary schools with the assistance of the global conservation organisation WWF in appreciation of efforts made by the schools in environmental conservation.
In a speech read on their behalf by the Ward Education Co-ordinator, Shadrack Mtimbwa, the villagers said that since the forests were located in their area, it was only fair that they should take responsibility for their management and protection with a view to enabling them benefit more from forest products.
’’We believe we can better manage the forests than the council because they are part of our environment. It is easy for us to deal with illegal harvesting so that the communities around the forests can improve their standard of living by using forest products,’’ Mtimbwa said.
The villagers also justified their request by explaining that they had a high degree of environmental awareness after being trained by WWF through the Environment Education Programme.
’’We have formed village and ward environmental committees to oversee environmental conservation in the area. There are also environmental groups which conduct various activities in conservation.
We now have enough knowledge to manage and protect the forests,” the villagers said in their speech.
Responding to the villagers’ speech, Morogoro District Education Officer Ali Mwegole, who represented the district executive director, commended the villagers for embracing environmental education.
’’Your willingness to change has earned you the support of WWF in improving the learning environment in your primary schools and assisting environmental groups in terms of training and provision of equipment that helps you to engage in economic projects,’’ he said.
Regarding their request to own and manage the forests, the DEO said that the matter would be discussed by district authorities.
|
