INTRODUCTION SUPPORT VISIT OF LCSR PROJECT.

Fiona Flintan, Senior Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has been supporting KINNAPA and our work on joint village lands use planning and participatory Rangeland management over the last decade.
In February 2024 Ms. Flintan joint the project team on a visit to Chalinze District Council offices and Bagamoyo District in Coast Region (where the project is working) to reintroduce and support the smooth implementation of activities and strategise on way forward. These activities to develop, improve and scale joint village land use planning are being supported by ILRI through the CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate. This work is having tangible impacts on the lives of local communities and other key stakeholders in improving planning, Governance and Management of grazing lands. Such visits are an important towards the Livestock and Climate Initiative fostering collaboration with key Government stakeholders and assessing project activities on the ground.

Fiona Flintan and the LCSR Team began their visit with a field tour in Chalinze District where she explored critical areas where the project has been implemented.The project aims to improve resilience through sustainable land use practices and environmental management while ensuring the local communities benefit from joint village land use planning and practice and enhanced climate resilience. In early 2023 Ms. Flintan had met with officials from the National Land Use Planning Commission and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. During these meetings, she introduced the Livestock and Climate Initiative to Government stakeholders and engaged in a meaningful discussion on how ILRI and the Tanzanian government stakeholders can work together to implement the project.The discussions centered on securing the joint land tenure for livestock keepers and issuance of the CCROs (certificates of customary rights of occupancy), mitigating land use conflicts and integrating climate resilience strategies.In general, the project's goals are ambitious, aiming to improve the resilience of livestock systems in the face of climate change, promote sustainable agriculture practices and enhance community livelihoods. During this meeting a commitment was made by ILRI to support the NLUPC in finalizing national guidelines on joint village land use planning and a national meeting on planning in early 2024.

Ms. Flintan, also accompanied the Kiteto District Commissioner to the joint village land use planning ALOLLE Cluster where shared grazing lands have been protected, to observe progress. They reviewed ongoing activities including initiatives to promote sustainable Rangeland management practices such as bush thinning to increase Rangeland productivity.Additionally, they inspected areas designated for bush thinning, a critical component of the project aimed at reducing environmental degradation and supporting sustainable grazing practices, testing out methods for Rangeland restoration at scale.
These visits are important for building collaboration and government and community ownership over the processes and marks an important milestone in the partnership between ILRI, KINNAPA, Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF) and the Tanzanian government in promoting sustainable livestock systems and addressing climate challenges with numerous benefits for communities. With a clear plan in place and strong partnerships established, there is no doubt that this project will make a lasting impact on the region