Context:

Essimingori Forest Reserve is currently the largest forest reserve under participatory forest Management in Monduli District. It constitutes one of the most important environmental areas lying in the Southwestern of Moduli District. forms one unique and biologically rich savannah land areas, with a great number of plants and animals that are found in that area with the coverage of 6,100 hectares while Selela forest has the coverage of 1,190 hectares. The natural habitat harbors the highest level of plant endemism of 60 species are found. Unfortunately, this area is the most economically disadvantaged in Arusha region and has the highest levels of economic poverty. Poverty is characterized by lack of sustainable economic alternatives, rapid population growth, lack of educational facilities and primary health care services, poor governance in general, is one of the underlying cause of overall land degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss in this forest. However, the majority of the local population heavily relies on natural resources for their livelihoods through subsistence farming and reflective cattle raising. The proposed project will add value and contribute to ongoing management and conservation of this globally significant Nature Reserve.

About the Proponent:

MPDO-LARETO is an acronym ?Maasai Pastoralist Development Organization is a Maasai word (Means self-help). MPDO-LARETO, is a non- governmental organization which was found in 2005 under civil Societies ordinance 1954 and complied with Non-Government Organization Act of 2002 gained legal status in 2016, with Certificate No. 01NGO/0008829 to operate at Regional Level. The organization was formed by three innovative local community members to deal with issues and challenges affecting pastoralist communities in Arusha Region and the whole nation at large.
In the previous project with Birdlife International which began in 2014 to date, MPDO-LARETO working with Maasai communities within Monduli and Longido Districts to create awareness on the trees planting in the forest. Also implemented land rights project supported by Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) and create a link between limited access to property and inheritance rights and the burden of HIV/AIDS for women. The project aimed to strengthen the capacities of the women in order to take advantage of the strategic opportunities presented by the Village Land Act. The Act aims to give customary rights of land occupancy equal standing to statutory legal rights of land occupancy, and it sets out procedures for management and administration of the land under customary tenure.

Project?s Primary Objective:
To contribute to the sustainable management and conservation of Essimingor Forest Reserve through empowerment and active participation of adjacent local communities to develop accountability systems for sustainable forest management.
The project specific objectives:
? To increase participation of adjacent community on Essimingori and Selela forest and woodland management and protection along Lossimigori slopes and woodland by May. 2022
? To undertake reforestation by planting forest and woodland seedlings (55,000 acacias seedlings) on cleared land along the Essimingori and Selela forest by May 2022.
? Increase income generating activities through bee keeping and tourism by May 2022.