Location: : Rufiji District, Pwani Region 

 Name of Financier/Client: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Name of Associated Consultants: Dr. Benaiah Benno of the University of Dar es Salaam
Start Date: November 2009  Completion date: Octeber 2010

Narrative Description of Project:

The Rufiji Environment Management Project (REMP), implemented by Rufiji District Council with financial support from the government of the Netherlands and technical assistance from IUCN, promoted such a transfer of authority from the central government to four pilot villages in Rufiji District. The four villages - Mtanza-Msona, Jaja, Twasalie and Mbunjumvuleni – comprised several local communities in the floodplain and delta ecosystems affected by the flooding of the river downstream of the Selous Game Reserve, and also included several upland forests of local importance.

The project’s goal was “to promote the long-term conservation through wise use of the lower Rufiji forests, woodlands and wetlands, such that biodiversity is conserved, critical ecological functions are  maintained, renewable natural resources are used sustainably, and the livelihoods of the area’s inhabitants are secured and enhanced.” Various components of this included: environmental planning and mapping within the floodplain and delta; implementing pilot community development projects based on the sustainable use of natural resources; raising awareness of the importance  of conservation at the village, district, and regional levels; and influencing national policies on natural resource management. The project’s chief objective was to support local communities in increasing their legal control and management over land and natural resources falling within their village lands, including fisheries as well as forested land.

Impact assessment of the project was conducted at the end of project implementation phase. The assessment was done based on the following key issues: Biodiversity impacts; Socioeconomic impacts; Policy impacts; and Project sustainability

Services Provided by ENVICON:-

  • Prepare inception report;
  • Carry out review of project’s documents;
  • Prepare survey tools and training of enumerators;
  • Carry out field survey for data collection;
  • Prepare impact assessment draft report;
  • Organize stakeholders workshop for result validation;
  • Prepare impact assessment final report