About the NGO:

Mletele Green Belt Society is a registered NGO which is based at Mletele village in Songea. The NGO addresses environmental challenges such as reclamation of gullies, tree planting and rehabilitation of bare lands, control and conservation of water sources. It also works closely with Songea Municipal Council as one of implementing agencies for the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP).

In February 2008, the Small Grants Programme facilitated a workshop in Songea for NGOs and CBOs from villages adjacent to Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor. Mletele Green Belt Society was not one of the invitees. However, on hearing about the workshop, they went to the workshop venue, obtained information about GEF/SGP, took one of the GEF/SGP brochures that had been distributed, studied it and decided to submit this proposal.

Context:

This proposal is based on a PRA that was conducted in 2002 and the SGP brochure, which the NGO obtained in Songea. The PRA had shown that the village was facing the following environmental challenges:-

1. Poaching of wildlife from Selous Game Reserve for income generation
2. Indiscriminate felling of trees for fuelwood, tobacco curing and income generation
3. Land degradation and decline in land productivity
4. Dwindling of income for local people

Furthermore, the PRA indicated a number of opportunities. For example the assessment indicated that people were willing to participate in the conservation of the environment through agroforestry activities. Some have initiated planting of environmentally friendly trees such as Moringa Oleofera and Jatropha.

Therefore, this project proposal is submitted with a request to assist the people in Mletele in their already started efforts in addressing environmental challenges that were identified in the PRA that was conducted way back in 2002.

Project?s Main Objective:

The project?s main objective is to reduce illegal exploitation of wildlife and plant resources in Mletele ward through promoting the planting of moringa oleofera and jatropha trees and beekeeping activities as alternative source of income as well as for conservation of environment.

Secondary Objectives:

? To assist in combating illegal hunting of wildlife and cutting of tree resources in Mletele ward and Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor
? Promotion of moringa tree as an agroforestry trees
? Promote conservation of water sources and watershed areas in Mletele ward.