The 3rd National CBNRM Forum, Tanzania

1. This May, TNRF is set to host the 3^rdNational CBNRM Forum in Tanzania following its Launch and Approval of CBNRM Stocktaking Report in 2012.
2. TNRF begun a process to establish a series of dialogues on Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) with the aim of providing a platform for multi-stakeholder exchange of information and agreeing on a common course for CBNRM success in Tanzania. In 2012, TNRF undertook a stocktaking exercise of CBNRM in forestry, fisheries and Wildlife in Tanzania which also recommended the need for establishing a national level platform named National CBNRM forum to help disseminate information on CBNRM success stories, share experiences and promote a greater understanding of the actions and enabling environment on CBNRM that can lead to improved social, economical and environmental benefits. While facilitating engagement at the national level, TNRF has also joined a regional civil society network on CBNRM issues, called Southern Africa CBNRM Forum (SACF) whose secretariat is based in Lusaka-Zambia. Joining SACF helps to promote South-to-South exchange on CBNRM issues and experience. Similar efforts are also made to promote South-to-North linkages through exchange dialogues.
3. To further promote CBNRM among other tasks, TNRF and WWF Tanzania through its Coastal East Africa Initiative entered a 3-years partnership programme on Land and forest-based investments programme on forest and land-based investments in Tanzania (2014-2017). The programme is geared towards building constructive dialogue with wide range of stakeholders including private sector, Government, civil society organizations to address and contribute to responsible investments on land and forests. With funds from WWF-Finland, among others, the partnership programme provide for support to hold National CBRNM fora in Tanzania.
   

Rationally for the National CBNRM Forum:

4. TNRF promotes community based natural resource management (CBNRM) as the focus for strengthening citizens’ voice in the forestry, rangelands, wildlife and fisheries thematic areas across the country and at community level. Focusing on the citizen and community brings natural resources management down to the level of practice, where the effects of policy can be seen and where real changes occur.  Promoting CBNRM will put the citizens first; secure livelihoods at the community level and foster sustainable natural resource use.
5. Success stories have been recorded in various CBNRM models, yet major challenges related to sustainability of project-based, donor funded models have not been addressed. Further, most CBNRM models have neither been able to deliver significant economic benefits to participating communities nor provide adequate incentives for effective participation. TNRF and other partners believe that it is through for a like this CBNRM models can be improved to fully unlock economic potentials for participating local communities, investors, the government and the conservation community.
6. One way of addressing the multitude of challenges facing CBNRM in Tanzania is through improved stakeholder collaboration and coordination. However, the coordination and collaboration between CBNRM stakeholders has for the past years been characterized as temporary, reactive, non-strategic, and non-holistic (some stakeholder are left out) and ad hoc at large. The lack of a national platform for deliberations and joint decision-making between multiple actors affected progress and effectiveness of CBNRM programs in achieving sustainable natural resources management and rural development in Tanzania. Realizing this lack of a common platform and following consultations with various local, national, regional and international level stakeholders, the Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF) facilitated the process to establish the Tanzania National CBNRM forum.

Objective and scope of the 3^rdforum:

7. The main objective of the National CBNRM forum (as suggested by stakeholders during its establishment) is to provide a platform for multi-stakeholder exchange of information, sharing
   experiences and agreeing on a common course for the success of CBNRM in
   Tanzania.
8. This 3^rd forum will only focus it discussion on CBNRMs in the Wildlife Sector in Tanzania, such as the Community Conservation and Outreach Services (CCS), the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) approach and Community-Based Wildlife Management (CBWM). CBNRMs in other sectors (forestry, fisheries and rangelands) will be addressed through other TNRF initiatives and trough its partner activities and during subsequent fora.
9. Specifically, the forum will:

• Share lessons, experience, current research findings (e.g. from PIMA project, TAWIRI etc.) and plans from current initiatives on Wildlife conservation – from the government, development partners, funding agents, national and international organization
• Engage multi-stakeholders and promote dialogue on various issues and efforts related to Development and Conservation of the Wildlife in Tanzania, including discussions of possible options and innovative models on wildlife conservation
• Promote re-establishment of the Wildlife Working Group under TNRF coordination to work on pertinent and emerging issues and synergies with on-going initiatives.

Proposed Invitees

10. This being a national level platform, proposed invitees include representatives from the Government line ministries/departments/agencies, national and international NGOs working in Tanzania, development partners, academia, research and development institutions, and private sectors among others (a full list is under confirmation). Official invitation letter will be extended, but of course interested participants can request for registration through the contacts provided in this concept note.
11. The future plan is for TNRF to promote similar forum at local level where wildlife management activities are really happening, such that forum at the local level will be feeding the national level platform, with possibilities of merging the two. The national platform would then channel issues/policy recommendations to the national government, and adequately provide feedback at the local level platform.

Programme of the Day

12. A detailed programme for the 3^rd CBNRM forum is being finalized and will be circulated well in advance. The forum is a one-day event, to be held on Thursday 26^thMay 2016, at the National College of Tourism, Dar es Salaam, starting from 0900hrs to 16000hrs.
13. In order to provide a common platform for information-experience sharing, discuss/dialogue and a space for multi-stakeholders engagement, the programme will provide space for:

• Keynotes from government representative, development partners and practitioners.
• Presentations and field experience and Research work frome.g.respective ministries/government departments/national and international NGOs, Development partners, scholars/researcher and projects.
• Discussion and plenary sessionsgeared towards strategizing and providing recommendations and innovative models to improve the wildlife sector in Tanzania
• Policy recommendationsessions and recommendations for re-establishment of wildlife working group.

Easy Access to National College of Tourism

14. For those not aware of the location, the venue (National College of Tourism) can easily be accessed from the city centre, Posta Bus Stand or from Askari Monument and several other possible routes [See Google Map for Directions (Click here)].