Kagera TFCA

Change activity: Afforestation to increase soil cover and restore carbon sinks
(mitigate carbon emission from bare soil) and reduce evapotranspiration, surface
run-off and carbon loss
Progress:
Kagera TFCA was represented in the climate change adaptation trainings by a
representative from Tanzania only, as Rwanda could not participate in the SADCfocussed trainings this is the main gap. The Tanzanian participant was Mr Linus
Chuwa.
The community surrounding the TFCA on the Tanzanian side has received the idea
of climate change adaptation and the change project well and have re-shaped it by
fore-grounding their main concern with erratic rainfall. The community has been
involved by planting indigenous trees and also planning for water harvesting which
has the potential to improve improved food security in the community. Participatory
plans have been put in place to implement habitat restoration through afforestation,
and water harvesting. These plans were implemented after the trainings and
afforestation activities have been an initial success in the TFCA from the preliminary
activities. The ongoing activities will focus on maintaining the planted trees so that
they survive their early years and reach maturity.
Opportunities for capacity building lie in participatory community engagement for
community-based adaptation. Current activities that mitigate or adapt to climate
change such as sustainable agriculture can be up-scaled, by adding such structures
as water-harvesting in the drought prone areas, and watershed management in the
flooding areas. A proper vulnerability analysis is being planned to improve this.
Progress up to date is that different stakeholders were involved from the beginning of
the project at different levels depending on their significance and positions. These
stakeholders include the supervisor, wildlife staff at Ibanda Rumanyika Game
reserve, local communities, ward and village leaders and District Council, mostly
politicians. It was important to introduce the idea of the project and share ideas on
the implementation of the project by incorporating their views. The project was
accepted by all these groups due to the impact of climate change which has been
experienced around the TFCA.
Two meetings were carried out mostly at the ward and village level such as
Murongo, Kibingo and Masheshe when they had other issues to be discussed. There
were difficulties in holding such an official meeting because most of them need to be
paid and provided with food. Through such meetings there was introduction of the
idea and sharing of experience with community leaders. Local communities were
informed through village leaders and responded positively by establishment of some
nursery trees. It was possible due to the presence of the NGO (RVEMP) dealing with
environment issues in the ward that had to provide seedlings and trees to local
communities freely. One nursery having 3000 trees has since been planted by one
person at Murongo village within the Kagera TFCA area. (Source: Linus E. Chuwa).

The picture below depicts one of the nurseries, which has been adapted to the
Kagera TFCA. It is one of the ways the TFCA is responding to climate change as a
CCAM strategy. From these community nurseries the community get the indigenous
trees for free and plant it in the park. The trees are expected to act as carbon sinks,
improve ground cover and reduce surface runoff and evapotranspiration. A drive
towards indigenous trees is being encouraged.

Photo no. 1: Trees nursery at Murongo village comprised of two species i.e pines and Eucalyptus. It is owned by Mr. Frank
Edward near to Ibanda Rumanyika Game Reserve office

Efforts by the counterpart in Tanzania to get a response from the authorities in

Akagera National Park in Rwanda have not been very successful; however plans to
visit are advanced.