Context:

Rau forest reserve in Moshi Municipality is an important resource for over 400,000 people who live in Moshi Municipality. It is a source of water for domestic purposes and irrigation schemes in lower Moshi. It is home to important plant species. Indigenous species such as oxystigma Msoo is only found in Rau. Rau is also hosting the biggest tree in East Africa. It is called Milicia excelsa with a diameter of about 3 meters. However, over the last few years, the forest has been facing threats. The threats include illegal logging, woodfuel collection, encroachment for agriculture, invasive species and incidences of wild fires and considering that it may take very longtime for degraded areas to regenerate naturally, this project seeks assistance to rehabilitate the forest through increased policing by involving local communities, gap planting and removal of invasive species.

About the Proponent:

Moshi District was established in January 1984. It is a responsible organ for social services and economic development for the Moshi residents, now estimated to be 401,369. The population density is 234.3 people per square kilometer. This is one of the highest population densities in the country.

Project?s Primary Objective:

To contribute to ecosystem restoration through reversing the trend of forest degradation at Rau Forest Reserve.


Implementation Strategies:

1. Baseline study to determine the status of the forest reserve
2. Establishment of two tree nurseries in order to produce tree seedlings for gap planting
3. Restoration of degraded areas
4. Re-establishing of fire lines
5. Involvement of forest adjacent local communities in surveillance and forest protection
6. Removal of invasive species

Project Sustainability Strategies:

1. Involvement of local comminutes in surveillance and forest guarding roles will assure security of forest resources on sustainable basis
2. Regular maintenance of fire lines will prevent the forest from wild fires
3. Promotion of tourism potential will attract tourists, which will generate income for forest maintenance

Anticipated project Results:

1. The forest reserve will be restored and its ecosystem services re-kindled
2. Enhanced forest surveillance and guarding roles that involve local communities
3. Increased conservation awareness will make local people refrain from practices that degrade the forest
4. Increased tourism flows due to iconic attractions found in the forest
5. Income generating activities by surrounding villages started with fees paid up by tourists (both internal and external)