Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Concern Worldwide

Project Code: 063-680-031	Start Date: 01-Apr-92	End Date: 01-Mar-97
Commitment: £309,172	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Ismani Division lies in the northern part of Iringa District, Iringa Region, Tanzania. Ismani Division is divided into four wards (Nduli, Kihorogota, Izazi and Malengamakali). Total land area 300,000 hectares. There are 23 villages in the Division and the number of households is approximately 7,910. The topography of the region falls into three main categories: (i) Nduli-Ismani Flats: undulating plateau including all of Nduli ward and central and eastern part of Kihorogota ward. The altitude falls between 1,100 and 1,400m. (ii) Mkilula Valley: Malengamakali ward possesses Mkilula valley which resembles category (i) in its topography (iii) Ruaha Eastern lowlands western lowlands of the Ruaha valley, below a rift valley escarpment which includes Izazi ward and the western part of Kihorogota ward. The forest resources of Ismani were overexploited in the 1950s and 60s. Large areas of Brachystegia (Miombo) woodland were cleared for tobacco curing and the extensive cultivation of maize by commercial farmers. The inherent fertility of the soils produced record harvests. The natural resource base of the area was effectively undermined. From the mid 1970s maize yields have consistently fallen. Agriculture has reverted to subsistence farming. The area is now characterised by low soil fertility, extensive soil erosion (both sheet and gully erosion) and continuing deforestation to meet the fuelwood requirements of the local population. Miombo woodlot is now only found on hilltops and steeper slopes. On the lower undulating plans Acacia woodland and Acacia shrub are found in association with Combretum species. The main Acacia species is A.tortilis. Commiphora bush is regenerating on previously cultivated land which has been abandoned (Concern, 1989).

Project Objectives:
The wider objectives of the project are: To increase the availability of wood products and increase their accessibility to the targetted population To incorporate environmentally sustainable land use practices in traditional farming systems. The immediate objectives are: Promotion of tree planting by individual farmers including amenity, boundary, shelter belt and fuel woodlot planting Establishment of school fuel woodlots Training of villagers on the importance of sustainable forestry Promotion of on-farm soil and moisture conservation techniques Promotion of appropriate agro-forestry systems Rehabilitation of severely eroded areas Formulating land use plans for villages Introducing management plans for existing woodlots Establishing village based nurseries.

Intended Outputs:
Functional tree committees: Tree committees will assume responsibility for forestry activities in their village. They will receive 'in-field' training and encouragement. Their duties are as outlined below:- (i) To supervise tree planting in their villages including schools, missions, individual and communal planting. (ii) To set targets of numbers and species of seedlings required in the village, and to supervise distribution. (iii) To protect natural woodlands/trees, and set aside land for tree planting. (iv) To keep records of tree planting and survival percentages. (v) To suggest and implement village bye-laws (e.g. fire control, livestock control etc.). (vi) Supervise and encourage small nurseries. A well motivated, effective extension team: Project supervisors will receive management training. Extension and nursery workers will attend a one week field study tour combined with residential training. Their effectiveness will be increased by the supply of transport and other essential inputs. Trained teachers: One teacher per school and four Education Ward Secretaries will attend seminars in the project area. Secondary nurseries run by individual farmers, schools, church groups, or village authorities. The organisation and administration will be flexible to accomodate local needs. 24 school fuel wood plots. Each school will plant 0.8 ha on average per year. 10 individual fuel wood plots, each of 0.4 ha, will be established annually in each village. 1,000,000 tree seedlings will be produced annually. There will be two central nurseries at Mkungugu and Kibaoni. The remaining seedlings will be produced in secondary nurseries in the villages. The proportion of seedlings produced in the latter will rise from 15 per cent in Year 1 to 25 per cent in Year 3. 28,000m of bunding constructed 'on-farm' per year. 2 village land use maps prepared annually, with the assistance of the Regional Land Use Office. These maps will identify village boundaries and appropriate areas for agriculture, livestock, forestry and other activities. 18 small existing woodlots mapped and management plans prepared. Work will commence on rehabilitation of 80 ha of severely eroded land (Ndolela, Kihorogota, Mangawe and Igula villages). This will include exclusion of livestock, bunding, check dam construction, tree planting, and reseeding grasses. A grass multiplication unit of 0.8 ha will be established to produce grasses for planting out for erosion control and bund stabilisation.