Context:

Mt. Rungwe is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. It is rich in biodiversity. It is also a water tower. Mt. Rungwe is faced with a number of man-initiated threats. They include forest fires, encroachment for agriculture, tree felling for woodfuel and building poles and invasion by alien tree species, which suffocate indigenous species.

Therefore, this project intends to address man-initiated threats with the view to making a contribution in restoring the mountain ecology.

About the NGO:

The NGO known as Rungwe Environment Conservation and Tourism Group is based at Tukuyu, Rungwe. The NGO has been in the ground for the last three years since 2008. However, the NGO obtained formal registration in March 2010. Todate, the NGO which has 30 members has been focusing on disseminating environment conservation education to Mount Rungwe adjacent villages in Rungwe and Ileje districts.



Project Objective:

To promote conservation of Mt. Rungwe through dissemination of conservation education to mountain adjacent villages and tree planting in degraded patches on mountain slopes.

Implementation Strategies:

Implementation will be carried out through two phases:-

Phase 1:

? Provide conservation education
? Establish two tree nurseries, each with 35,000 seedlings

Phase II:

? Continue conservation education
? Rehabilitate degraded patches through tree-replanting by using Harambee approach.