Since independent 1961 Tanzania have
formulated very good environmental laws, policies and strategies such as Forest
act no 14 (2002), environmental management act no 20, 2004, fisheries act no 22
of 2003, wildlife conservation act no 12 of 1974 and policies includes
environmental policy of 1997, foresty policy of 1998, wildlife of 1998 and
tourism policy of 1999. Not only that but also strategies for supporting
sustainable implementation of such laws eg. MKUKUTA and MKURABITA in mainland
MKUZA in Zanzibar. Why environmental destruction still engulfing the country?
Below are the key reasons:
Poverty; data shows that the country population is 40 million where by 80% of population lives in rural and their main economic activities is agricultural especially peasant agriculture and their income per year is 25000tsh=154$.their main source of energy are wood and charcoal .this mean that the community depend on nature for their survival. Though the government is encouraging public participation in environmental conservation via environmental management act no 20 of 2004 the problems increasing rapidly due to poverty increases.
The solution of the problem is not only public participation in environmental management and conservation, what must be done is improving economic condition of the majority from 250000tshs (154$) to 5000000tshs(3079$ per year), where by at least they can afford to buy kerosene, pay bills for electricity than depending on nature totally. There must reduction in price for kerosene which is a source of fuel for majority in rural, agriculture inputs and create good market for agriculture products.
Community little knowledge in sustainable environmental conservation; the larger population they don’t have environmental education ,therefore they don’t knows where to end their farms, some believe that in catchment areas are good place to conduct agriculture activities. Other burns forest so as to get areas to graze their cattle without knowing that they are destroying their nature (environmental).
Corruption, Illegal timber hervesting, dynamite fishing and poaching are common in Tanzania due to existence of some of the government leaders who have responsibilities to supervise the resources are receiving corruption and allow people to enter in protected resources and take all the resources unsustainably example mchangani street chairman in Pemba mnazi Ngeche Mussa cited corruption as the main reason behind the increased incident of dynamite fishing on the Indian Ocean Coast. Dynamite fishing destroying ecosystem, and pollute water when killed organism decay not only that but also when fishers fish by using poisonous chemicals. (SOURCE:THE GURDIAN 21.11.2009).
Poverty; data shows that the country population is 40 million where by 80% of population lives in rural and their main economic activities is agricultural especially peasant agriculture and their income per year is 25000tsh=154$.their main source of energy are wood and charcoal .this mean that the community depend on nature for their survival. Though the government is encouraging public participation in environmental conservation via environmental management act no 20 of 2004 the problems increasing rapidly due to poverty increases.
The solution of the problem is not only public participation in environmental management and conservation, what must be done is improving economic condition of the majority from 250000tshs (154$) to 5000000tshs(3079$ per year), where by at least they can afford to buy kerosene, pay bills for electricity than depending on nature totally. There must reduction in price for kerosene which is a source of fuel for majority in rural, agriculture inputs and create good market for agriculture products.
Community little knowledge in sustainable environmental conservation; the larger population they don’t have environmental education ,therefore they don’t knows where to end their farms, some believe that in catchment areas are good place to conduct agriculture activities. Other burns forest so as to get areas to graze their cattle without knowing that they are destroying their nature (environmental).
Corruption, Illegal timber hervesting, dynamite fishing and poaching are common in Tanzania due to existence of some of the government leaders who have responsibilities to supervise the resources are receiving corruption and allow people to enter in protected resources and take all the resources unsustainably example mchangani street chairman in Pemba mnazi Ngeche Mussa cited corruption as the main reason behind the increased incident of dynamite fishing on the Indian Ocean Coast. Dynamite fishing destroying ecosystem, and pollute water when killed organism decay not only that but also when fishers fish by using poisonous chemicals. (SOURCE:THE GURDIAN 21.11.2009).
Environmental policy refers to the commitment of an
organization to the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental
issues and sustainability. These
issues generally include air and water pollution, solid waste management,
biodiversity, ecosystem management, maintenance of biodiversity, the protection
of natural resources, wildlife and endangered species. Policies concerning
energy or regulation of toxic substances including pesticides and many types of
industrial waste are part of the topic of environmental policy. This policy can
be deliberately taken to direct and oversee human activities and thereby
prevent harmful effects on the biophysical
environment and natural resources, as well
as to make sure that changes in the environment do not have harmful effects on
humans.[1]
It is useful to consider
that environmental policy comprises two major terms: environment and policy. Environment refers to the
physical ecosystems, but can also take into consideration the social dimension
(quality of life, health) and an economic dimension (resource management,
biodiversity).[2] Policy can be defined as a
"course of action or principle adopted or proposed by a government, party,
business or individual".[3] Thus, environmental policy focuses on
problems arising fromhuman impact on the environment, which retroacts onto human
society by having a (negative) impact on human values such as good health or
the 'clean and green' environment.
Environmental
issues generally
addressed by environmental policy include (but are not limited to) air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystemmanagement, biodiversity protection, the protection of natural resources, wildlife and endangered
species, and the preservation of these natural resources for future
generations. Relatively recently, environmental policy has also attended to the
communication of environmental issues.[4]
Environmental Policy and
Management
The Environment and Policy Management Component under the Natural
Resource Management Programme (NRMP) supports the Government of Kenya in the
implementation of the first medium-term plan (2008-2012) in general and,
particularly, in relation to strategies and goals for environmental planning
and governance.
The scope of the component is specifically to support key national
environmental institutions – the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources
(MEMR), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Office of
the Prime Minister (OPM) – in realizing the objectives of their strategic plans
through joint financing of agreed elements of their annual work plans and
budgets. The collaboration with the three institutions is demand-driven and
performance-based, and is expected to continue for the full duration of the
programme. The indicative budget allocation for the component is DKK 79.2
Million, corresponding to KSH 1,131 Million, for the five-year period 2010 to
2014.
In order to support the realisation of the NRMP development objective,
the Environmental Policy and Management Component 1 has the following
intermediate objectives:
§ Institutional framework for addressing environmental policy, planning
and coordination is strengthened;
§ Sustainable environmental management advanced and consolidated;
§ Overall policy coordination of natural resource management is
strengthened.
The component objectives accordingly
support the overall NRMP objective by establishing broader knowledge and
participation in sustainable natural resource management, thus increasing the
focus on natural resource management and poverty linkages and improving
dialogue between local communities and beneficiaries and policy makers at local
and national levels in addressing natural resources management. The component
will also address the poverty reduction strategies of the Government as well as
contribute to achieving the MDGs.
Environmental Policy and Coordination Sub-Component The mandate of the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources (MEMR) is to “to protect, conserve and manage the environment and mineral resources through sustainable exploitation for socio-economic and political development” and its mission is “to promote, conserve, protect, monitor and sustainably manage the environment and mineral resources for national development”. MEMR is supported under sub-component 1.1 in alignment with MEMR’s Strategic Plan 2008-2012, which has the following strategic objectives:
Environmental Policy and Coordination Sub-Component The mandate of the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources (MEMR) is to “to protect, conserve and manage the environment and mineral resources through sustainable exploitation for socio-economic and political development” and its mission is “to promote, conserve, protect, monitor and sustainably manage the environment and mineral resources for national development”. MEMR is supported under sub-component 1.1 in alignment with MEMR’s Strategic Plan 2008-2012, which has the following strategic objectives:
§ Improving institutional, policy, legal and regulatory framework for a
sustainable environment that allows effective coordination at horizontal and
vertical levels of government and with the private sector and civil
society;
§ Mainstreaming environmental, climate and mineral concerns into overall
planning, implementation and monitoring of government and partners, so as to
reduce environmental degradation and strengthen the role of environment and
natural resources in reducing poverty;
§ Ensuring that all units within ministerial departments and partners have
clear roles and mandates, with sufficient trained staff and resources to
implement and monitor their responsibilities effectively and efficiently;
§ Raising real awareness of the importance of environmental matters within
national and local political leaders stressing social and economic importance
as well as ecological consequences.
The sub-component has a total budget of
DKK 28 Million (approximately KSH 400 Million).
Environmental Management Sub-Component
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has the objective to exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment and to be the principal instrument of the Government of Kenya in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment.
The mission of NEMA is to 1) Safeguard, restore and enhance the quality of the environment through coordination and supervision of stakeholders for sustainable development; 2) Exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment and implementation of environmental law; and 3) Supervise and coordinate all environmental matters and implement all policies relating to the environment for sustainable development. The design of the NRMP’s support to NEMA is based on the NEMA Strategic Plan 2008-2012 and it will support the following strategic objectives:
Environmental Management Sub-Component
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has the objective to exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment and to be the principal instrument of the Government of Kenya in the implementation of all policies relating to the environment.
The mission of NEMA is to 1) Safeguard, restore and enhance the quality of the environment through coordination and supervision of stakeholders for sustainable development; 2) Exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment and implementation of environmental law; and 3) Supervise and coordinate all environmental matters and implement all policies relating to the environment for sustainable development. The design of the NRMP’s support to NEMA is based on the NEMA Strategic Plan 2008-2012 and it will support the following strategic objectives:
§ Enhancing environmental education, public participation and
awareness;
§ Coordinating lead agencies and other stakeholders in environmental
management;
§ Strengthening NEMA’s capacity to undertake its mandate; and
§ Conducting research surveys and disseminating research findings.
The budget for NRMP support to NEMA
amounts to DKK 26.4 Million (approximately KSH 376.4 Million).
Sustainable Development Sub-Component
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is charged with the function of coordination and supervision of Government ministries. In furtherance of this responsibility, areas where coordination and supervision are important include the environment in general and climate change in particular. By their very nature these activities are cross-cutting, even if specific ministries are tasked to lead. They are critical for sustainable national development, are key to poverty reduction, and in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
The OPM therefore seeks to undertake activities in the area of environment generally, and climate change in particular, by establishing an Environment and Climate Change Unit (ECCU) under its Policy Coordination Department. The support provided under NRMP seeks to establish and capacitate the ECCU to undertake the following tasks:
Sustainable Development Sub-Component
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is charged with the function of coordination and supervision of Government ministries. In furtherance of this responsibility, areas where coordination and supervision are important include the environment in general and climate change in particular. By their very nature these activities are cross-cutting, even if specific ministries are tasked to lead. They are critical for sustainable national development, are key to poverty reduction, and in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
The OPM therefore seeks to undertake activities in the area of environment generally, and climate change in particular, by establishing an Environment and Climate Change Unit (ECCU) under its Policy Coordination Department. The support provided under NRMP seeks to establish and capacitate the ECCU to undertake the following tasks:
§ Policy analysis and research in the area of environment and climate
change relating to national development, poverty reduction and the achievement
of Millennium Development Goals;
§ Policy advice to the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister in the area of environment
and climate change coordination;
§ Policy consultations and dialogue to facilitate coordinated policy
development and implementation through, inter alia, workshops, seminars and
conferences;
§ Policy dissemination through publications, special feature articles in
the print media, and press conferences; and
§ Establishment of a twinning arrangement with an appropriate
international centre with expertise on environment and climate change with a
view to sharing of experiences and for further sharpening of the policy’s
analytical tools in these areas.
Sub-component 1.3 has a total budget of DKK 24.8 Million (approximately
354.3 Million)
- Ministry of Environment Draft Strategic PlaBody of rules and regulations, and orders and statutes, concerned with
the maintenance and protection of the natural environment of a country. It provides basis for measuring and apportioning liability in cases of environmental crime and the failure to comply with its provisions.
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