MJUMITA


MJUMITA is a network of thousands of community members from over 400 villages across Tanzania. We provide our members with technical assistance regarding forest management, governance, and advocacy.

Through local network meetings and annual national meetings, MJUMITA has brought together more than 15,000 community members from 12 regions, 23 districts and 450 villages to discuss participatory forest management. The meetings have provided an opportunity to present concerns to senior staff from the Forestry and Beekeeping Division. President Kikwete also attended one of the meetings and he is also a member of MJUMITA with card number 1 since 2005. The meetings provide a space in which communities from around the country can discuss issues of common concern and formulate and articulate demand for changes to the status quo.

The Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania locally known as Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (MJUMITA) is a network of community groups involved in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in Tanzania. The network provides a forum for capacity building, advocacy and communication for these groups. MJUMITA was Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania (MJUMITA) on the political agenda by working successfully with journalists to generate newspaper, radio and television coverage of the issues related to participatory forest management and by raising their concerns with politicians and civil servants.

The network has provided support to communities to demand and defend their forest rights where these are being threatened including in cases where private sector companies have attempted to take community forests.

Individual networks have succeeded in halting illegal logging and other illegal activities within their forests and bringing to account government staff involved in illegal activities.

MJUMITA is now recognized both nationally and internationally.