A collective journey towards forest sustainability in Samazi Village
In Samazi Village, nestled in Tanzania’s Rukwa Region near Lake Tanganyika, fishing has long been the heartbeat of community life. For generations, families depended on the lake’s plentiful catch. Yet climate change has reduced fish stocks, pushing many households to rely more heavily on surrounding land and forests for farming, timber, charcoal, and firewood. Without robust rules or community oversight, this mounting pressure led to rapid deforestation, endangering both the environment and the livelihoods it supports.
Early steps and growing challenges
In 2017, Samazi took a forward-thinking step by creating a Village Land Use Plan that designated 1,750 hectares as a protected forest reserve. Governance structures were put in place, including a Village Natural Resource Committee (VNRC) to manage conservation and a Village Land Use Management Committee (VLUM) to oversee broader land use.
However, by 2019, momentum faded as the committees lacked sustainable income sources. Activity dwindled, bylaws went unenforced, and the reserve effectively became open access. Farms encroached, trees were felled for timber and charcoal, wildlife was poached, and bush fires cleared land. Village leaders tried to intervene, but weak institutions and low awareness often sparked tension rather than cooperation. Many residents did not fully grasp the value of forest protection or its long-term benefits.
By 2024, the toll was stark: 305 hectares had been lost, leaving only 1,445 hectares. “In the past five years, the village reserve forest became everyone’s farm,” says Mr Justin Kalizoa, VNRC Chairperson.
“If the SUSTAIN Eco project had not arrived when it did, we might have lost half the forest by now.”
Reviving governance and community ownership
In 2024, work began in Samazi to restore degraded land, protect water sources, and conserve forests as part of the SUSTAIN Eco project in the Sumbawanga landscape. Rather than introducing top-down solutions, the focus was on addressing underlying challenges—weak local governance, limited awareness, and gaps in capacity.
Working with local authorities, the Village Natural Resource Committee (VNRC) and Village Land Use Management (VLUM) committees were reactivated. Members received practical training on their roles, relevant environmental and land laws, leadership, reporting, and accountability. Clear village bylaws were also developed to guide forest use, protection, enforcement, and fair benefit-sharing.
To support their work, committees were equipped with basic tools—patrol boots, rain jackets, whistles, slashers, and bush knives—making it possible to carry out regular patrols safely.
At the same time, community meetings created space for open discussion on land, water, and forest conservation, and what it means for livelihoods over time. These conversations helped shift perceptions, with conservation increasingly seen not as a restriction, but as a shared responsibility.
The most enduring shift in Samazi is a renewed sense of ownership. The forest is no longer seen as distant government property or the responsibility of a few leaders; it is recognised as a vital community asset.
A key achievement was the development of a participatory Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) plan. This grants the village legal rights and responsibilities for sustainable management, with guidelines for protection and monitored use. It also paves the way for official gazettement—formal recognition that strengthens tenure security and unlocks future opportunities, such as carbon credit schemes.
The changes have been profound. The 305 hectares lost to encroachment have been reclaimed and placed under community protection. Illegal logging, charcoal production, and farm expansion have sharply declined, with no active deforestation currently reported in the reserve.
Conflicts between residents and leaders have eased, thanks to clearer rules and widespread support for enforcement. Every Tuesday, VNRC and VLUM members patrol boundaries. Former encroachment sites are now guarded, and villagers actively report violations.
“We all hope our livelihoods will improve by conserving the forest,” says community member Mr Antony Katotori. “I will not allow anyone to enter illegally. If I see an intruder, I report them to the authorities.”
With degradation halted, Samazi is now exploring ways to benefit from the forest responsibly. The CBFM plan highlights opportunities such as beekeeping, regulated honey and medicinal plant collection, eco-tourism (forest walks, birdwatching, camping), and carefully controlled timber harvesting. Early income is already emerging: the village and VNRC earn from honey-harvesting fees and penalties for offences. As compliance strengthens, fines should decrease, while new revenue streams—such as eco-tourism and potential carbon credits, drawing on successful Tanzanian models—offer greater stability.
A shared sense of stewardship
The most enduring shift in Samazi is a renewed sense of ownership. The forest is no longer seen as distant government property or the responsibility of a few leaders; it is recognised as a vital community asset.
As Mr Godfrey, VLUM Secretary, observes: “Forest conservation in our village is not the work of a few people; it is everyone’s responsibility.”
Samazi demonstrates what can be achieved when communities are equipped with strong institutions, practical tools, and shared understanding. Through the SUSTAIN Eco project’s collaborative approach, a threatened forest has become a protected and valued resource—proof that effective conservation builds trust, restores responsibility, and secures sustainable livelihoods for future generations.
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