SAVE BIODIVERSITY Volume 1, Issue 3
A Quarterly Newsletter of the East African Cross Border Biodiversity Project
Tanzanian Component URT/97/G31 April – June, 1999

   The Global Environment Facility (GEF) co-finances incremental costs activities that address the conservation of biological diversity; the conservation of international waters; the threat on accelerated climate change and; depletion of the ozone layer. The GEF works through three implementing agencies - UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank. Each agency contributes its particular expertise to GEF operations. UNDP is primarily responsible for implementing technical assistance and capacity building projects; UNEP is primarily responsible in catalysing the development of scientific and technical analysis, and the World Bank is primarily responsible for developing and implementing investment projects. The GEF Secretariat (based in Washington DC) is responsible for coordinating the formulation and overseeing the implementation of programme activities, policy, and services and reports to the GEF Council. The GEF is the funding mechanism for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

 

As one of the three implementing agencies of the GEF, UNDP supports projects that build the human and institutional capacities needed for developing policies, utilizing technologies, and managing resources that are crucial to conserving the global environment. Special consideration is given to those projects which simultaneously develop income-generation options for local stakeholders. Our project is funded by GEF, through UNDP within the biodiversity focal area. This project is implemented by the three East African Government environmental agencies

Some International Conventions Related to the GEF:

The Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992

The United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change, 1992

The Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought Paris, 1994

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987

Building links with other institutions in Arusha

The project facilitates and participates in a number of meetings, workshops and seminars that are planned and organised focusing on biodiversity conservation and utilization of its components .

Between April and June 1999, such meetings, workshops and seminars were organised by NEMC, IUCN, WFP, Monduli District Council, African Wildlife Foundation, VET – AID, NGOs and conducted at the Project Office Arusha. This interaction is one of the ways to build links for further collaborative activities leading to sustainable use of biodiversity. Many individuals with interest on biodiversity conservation contact our project offices in Arusha, Same, Monduli and Bukoba.

                                             Inside this Edition

                    
Mr. Adolf Matungwa has been offered a post as Field Project Officer for Monduli District. He replaces the late Mr. Henry Ngunyali, who passed away on February 25, 1999. Mr. Matungwa was named as the new Monduli Field Project Officer after going through an interview process held at FAO headquaters in Dar es Salaam on June 21, 1999. The interview was conducted by a panel of professionals representing the District Executive Director Monduli, NEMC, the Treasury, Planning Commission, FAO, UNDP, NEX/PMSU and the Cross Border Biodiversity Project.

Mr. Matungwa is expected to take up his post early July 1999. Having worked as the counterpart to the Field Project Officer in Same District for the past year, employed by the DED of Same, Mr. Matungwa brings a strong knowledge of Regional and District Forestry expertise, environmental conservation and familiarity with project goals and implementation strategy with him to his new post. We wish Mr. Matungwa all the best in his new career and invite him to join the biodiversity conservation team in East Africa.

Project Supports Tree Planting Campaigns

2

Jatropha curcas: An Alternative Resource

4

PM & E Consultancy Clarifies Project Direction

5

Minziro Forest Values & Threats Enumerated

6

Training Needs Assessment Update

7

Staff Attend Biodiversity Conservation Training

8

European Tour Equips Staff with Management Tools

8