TANZANIA: CONSERVATION efforts spearheaded by the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF) are paying off after the
number of tourists rose to over 4,000 in 2023/24 from 3,000 in 2022/23.Amani Nature Reserve Acting Chief Conservator, Mr Nikundiwe Majoya said recently that income generated during the period under review rose to 40m/- in 2023/24 from 30m/- in 2022/23.
He attributed the success to efforts undertaken by EAMCEF, hailing the Fund for a work well done that has benefited a lot of people living around the reserve.
Mr Majoya told reporters that EAMCEF chipped in to save the environment by discussing with the villagers on what projects they would like to undertake to address poverty, and their choices were prioritised.As a result, he noted, the number of people entering the reserve has declined.
To that end, citizens from 20 villages around the forest benefit from EAMCEF support, as they get paid if they engage in projects like clearing the reserve demarcations, and improving roads and other tourism-attraction infrastructure so that tourists are comfortable in their travel.
The conservator noted that EAMCEF also issued some funds to the villagers to implement their projects to earn money.
Such projects include planting trees, making power-saving stoves, fish farming and bee-keeping.
They also serve as a means to reduce the pace of encroaching the forest that had reached an alarming rate in the past.
“In this Nature Reserve, we preserve the unique flora and fauna of the East Usambara Mountains. We have been able to do so through monetary support from EAMCEF.
We have worked with the funds on other fronts, such as cleaning the borders and tourists’ paths, patrolling, as well as supporting the villagers in implementing other economic projects for their own good.
“We have witnessed huge improvement in the conservation of the forest and thriving of fauna and flora here; we were worried about losing some fauna and flora, but now we are hopeful everything will go well.
Some birds that were rarely seen now are back in good shape, the same applied to chameleons and other creatures which attract tourists,” he said.
The Amani Forest Reserve, officially listed as Amani Nature Forest Reserve, is a protected area located in the Muheza and Korogwe districts of the Tanga Region.
One of the beneficiaries of the EAMCEF support, Mr Mrisho Nzota from Mikwinini village, Shebomeza ward, deals in cleaning the borders of the reserve and tourists’ paths.
He said that due to conservation knowledge imparted to them, they now understand the importance of environmental conservation, while at the same time getting job opportunities and earning income to make both ends meet at family levels.
EAMCEF Project Officer, Ms Magreth Victor said beneficiaries of the project are from five districts, namely Muheza, Lushoto, Korogwe and Mkinga in Tanga Region as well as Same District of Kilimanjaro Region.
She said that the Fund has been issuing 49m/- annually to Amani Nature Reserve for undertaking different activities, such as cons
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