Kikole was one of the first Village Land Forest Reserves to be granted FSC status – take a look at the perspective of Kikole villagers from their forest in Tanzania…
Lying just to the south of the equator, Tanzania is one of the two major African blackwood-exporting countries.
In terms of biological wealth, Tanzania is one most wealthy countries in the world. However, it’s limited financial resources make it one of the world’s poorest countries, with widespread urban and rural poverty.
Lindi Region, in the south of Tanzania, is one of the most heavily forested parts of Tanzania but most of it is poorly protected.
Kikole received a payment of around £1,200 in return for 15 cubic metres of African Blackwood. Previously the community would only have received around five pence per log.
In all Kikole were able to realise an income nearly 400 times more than they would have received previously on the 63 logs which were sold.
Kikole intend to spend the money they have raised on improving the road to the village, improving market access for impoverished farmers and providing local employment.
Mr Mwinyimkuu Awadhi, Chairman of Kikole village, comments: “In 2009 the communities of Kikole Village we have realized for the first time the benefits from selling our own timber. All the money was paid to the villages unlike in the past where by this money would have gone to the government. We the villagers now have full control of our forest resources and we will benefit even more when we do more harvesting in the near future.”
Local resident, Mwanaisha Likoko adds: “Changes have come to our village through the forest we own and manage under our control, the money we have received will be used within our village to improve our social services.”
Context
Kikole was one of the first Village Land Forest Reserves to be granted FSC status – take a look at the perspective of Kikole villagers from their forest in Tanzania…
Lying just to the south of the equator, Tanzania is one of the two major African blackwood-exporting countries.
In terms of biological wealth, Tanzania is one most wealthy countries in the world. However, it’s limited financial resources make it one of the world’s poorest countries, with widespread urban and rural poverty.
Lindi Region, in the south of Tanzania, is one of the most heavily forested parts of Tanzania but most of it is poorly protected.
It is from here that the FSC timber will flow, a process that started in December 2009 with the world first FSC-certified African blackwood harvest in Kikole Village Land Forest Reserve.
Kikole received a payment of around £1,200 in return for 15 cubic metres of African Blackwood. Previously the community would only have received around five pence per log.
In all Kikole were able to realise an income nearly 400 times more than they would have received previously on the 63 logs which were sold.
Kikole intend to spend the money they have raised on improving the road to the village, improving market access for impoverished farmers and providing local employment.
Mr Mwinyimkuu Awadhi, Chairman of Kikole village, comments: “In 2009 the communities of Kikole Village we have realized for the first time the benefits from selling our own timber. All the money was paid to the villages unlike in the past where by this money would have gone to the government. We the villagers now have full control of our forest resources and we will benefit even more when we do more harvesting in the near future.”
Local resident, Mwanaisha Likoko adds: “Changes have come to our village through the forest we own and manage under our control, the money we have received will be used within our village to improve our social services.”
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