CHALLENGES/OBSTACLES/DIFFICULTIES/OF SHENGENA FOREST
Although Shengena forest has a lot of benefit for both fauna and flora but there a lot of challenges which is facing it which we are kindly asking other environmental stakeholders to cross finger with us to save our entirely forest. These are:
Bauxite mining in Mount Shengena : The forests are disappearing under spoil heaps
,This has caused humankind and nature suffer due to the greed for raw materials of others. It not only destroys this unique ecosystem, but also the source of water of the entire Same district. The villagers of Chome are already complaining of not having enough water to keep their fields fertile. Agriculture would be almost impossible and particularly the rural population will then be deprived of its basic food. Moreover, the mining also damages the ecosystem of the adjacent Shengena Forest Reserve, which was originally intended to protect the forest precisely against these influences. For the purpose of transporting the bauxite, a street has been specially carved into the mountain. This street now also facilitates illegal poachers and loggers to gain access to the fertile forest. COMMUNITIES living along the Bauxite mining in Chome ward along the Shengena Forest Reserve in Same district of Kilimanjaro have blamed the escalating environmental degradation for that the endemic drought that is threatening food production in the area. It is just contributing to environmental degradation in the areas area
Large trucks transport the red raw material for aluminum into the valley. For this purpose only, a street has been carved into the mountain. This in turn facilitates illegal poachers and loggers to gain access to the fertile forest. The raw material is being brought to the neighboring Kenya and from there, is shipped to Asia.
Large trucks transport the red raw material for aluminum into the valley. For this purpose only, a street has been carved into the mountain. This in turn facilitates illegal poachers and loggers to gain access to the fertile forest. The raw material is being brought to the neighboring Kenya and from there, is shipped to Asia.
The entire region is threatened to dry up if there is no more water flowing from the well. Agriculture would then be impossible. Even now, farmers are complaining of increasingly poor harvests. Their livelihood is threatened by the exploitation. Although the Government has already banned the exploitation near the Chome village, then why are there still trucks rolling down the mountain into the valley? The people from the area are talking about large bribes which the mining company, currently known as the Willy Enterprise, is paying to silence their enemies. Corruption opens the door to exploitation, despite significant formal and legal shortcomings.The inhabitants are convinced that only because of corruption all this can continue. Some of them formed a protest group, but without any help, they are powerless against a company that pays a bribe for silence.
Gold mining taking place within the forest and within the cathments areas which has result water to dry up in the mains rivers.The people worry about the drought as the mining is not friendly to forests and destroys sources of water.We have started experiencing water shortage in this area compared to the past .A survey we carried out in the area recently showed that the on-going mining has very minimal returns to indigenous people in the area.We have been experiencing water shortage in this area as the mining process disturbs water sources.Even crop production has gone down, the situation that makes us to suspect these mining activities here, because the rains are not enough compared to the preciously years.
The water from natural springs and rivers originating from the forest used to be sparkling clear but today it looks brownish and dirty, indicating possible case of poisoned water.Gold mining that involved up-rooting of huge trees as miners believed that gold was attached to the roots, would cause quick disappearance of the water springs and health complication due to chemicals applied.The vegetation starts to change colour. Trees found along the river banks as contaminated water flows down the stream dry quickly, indicating that the chemicals found in water were harmful to living organisms.
According to the villagers, the miners have also diverted the natural course of streams and rivers so as to reclaim more land for mining activities now known to be more destructive to the biodiversity than ever thought before.We admitted that indeed mining activities put at risk people's lives as miners targeted water sources.
"The miners have been falling trees at an alarming rate and we fear that the forest cover may soon be depleted and this will be disastrous not only to Same district, but also the entire nation because Pangani River basin also depend on water flowing from Shengena forest reserves.
Water is one of the most powerful ways to improve health, hygiene, and well-being of any families need water to survive. And to make that safe water decreases the diseases among the communities. To focusing attention on the importance of water and advocating sustainable management of fresh water resources
Lumbering and charcoal burning threatened the existence of Shengena forest, which is part of the Eastern Arc Mountain Forests. One of the most complex topics related to co-management of these forest areas is the access to commercially valuable timber. Cash income is a priority for many communities in remote forest areas, and timber could supply that need. However, the Government of Tanzania banned all commercial logging in all mountain catchment forests approximately 15 years ago (Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, 2001). Building sustainable logging into village contracts is not a legal option. Limited logging is permitted for community development, but not enough to provide cash income or more than negligible employment. The concern is how to balance community conservation for water and sacred forest imperatives with the still present individual demand for timber.
Lumbering and charcoal burning threatened the existence of Shengena forest, which is part of the Eastern Arc Mountain Forests. One of the most complex topics related to co-management of these forest areas is the access to commercially valuable timber. Cash income is a priority for many communities in remote forest areas, and timber could supply that need. However, the Government of Tanzania banned all commercial logging in all mountain catchment forests approximately 15 years ago (Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, 2001). Building sustainable logging into village contracts is not a legal option. Limited logging is permitted for community development, but not enough to provide cash income or more than negligible employment. The concern is how to balance community conservation for water and sacred forest imperatives with the still present individual demand for timber.
Other challenges includes human threats, including encroachment for agricultural land,overcutting of trees for building and fencing,overgrazing,uncontrolled bush fires,cutting of trees to harvest honey,overuse leading to loss of water sources.
Lack of funds to support our local environmental groups around the Shengena forest which are real committed to reforestations mean to replace trees within the forest and at their surrounded environments. They needs polythene tubes,seeds,spades,hoes,wire mesh and so on for opening more nursery trees.
Wild animals around mkomazi national reserve are endangering due to the fact that it depends water from the forest too for their survival through Kalemawe Dam which has been dry.