The deal was concluded through the facilitation of the Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative (MCDI). In 2009, rural communities under MCDI support became the first group to be awarded an FSC certification for a community-managed natural forest in Africa. Fifteen communities out of the total 39 villages across seven districts are already certified while the rest are in the process of obtaining certification. To date, in total, more than 200,000 hectares of forest are FSC certified through this group certificate. The fifteen certified communities stand to benefit from long-running contracts to supply FSC certified and kiln-dried sawn timber to Grumeti Reserves Ecolodge for its ongoing rehabilitation and expansion projects.
Equipped with two state-of-the-art community-owned mobile sawmills, the FSC-certified communities have supplied a total of 6,767 planks (43 cubic meters) of kiln-dried sawn timber to the lodge since July 2018.
The new business venture benefiting communities living more than 1,500 km away from the Eco Lodge is a testimony to the value attached to the quality of timber from forests managed according to the highest international standards. The investors learned of MCDI’s FSC community timber through FSC International, leading to a contract with the first village in 2018, followed by a second in 2019 and a third in 2020. Later this year, 12 more certified villages are expected to sign contracts with the Ecolodge. A high-profile, ethical, private company such as Grumeti Reserves opting to purchase timber from a sustainable and responsible source has led to an increase in the value of timber, with the average premium being 60% higher than in the normal market and will help to stamp out competition from illegal logging. Adhering to FSC's guidelines, principles, and criteria has primarily helped the communities in managing their forests responsibly and ensuring that they remain healthy for future generations. Processing the logs using the community mobile sawmill has reduced the number of trees being cut down due to its high recovery rate; only one tree is required to produce the equivalent number of planks of wood produced by two trees using older technologies.
The villages involved in supplying the Eco Lodge are Liwiti, Likawage, and Sautimoja and comprise 3,597 men and 3,970 women. Thanks to the revenues generated from the sawn timber, these communities have invested in social services and infrastructure including the creation of local employment for approximately 400 community members (more than 50% youth and 20% women). In addition, 100 primary and secondary school students (30 boys and 70 girls) benefited from new school desks, newly constructed classrooms, teacher’s accommodation, and school lunches.
Building a timber yard and saving revenues for a dispensary project in Liwiti village has also been made possible. Furthermore, the inhabitants of Likawage village were able to repair their primary and secondary school classrooms, install school toilets, and build housing for the village leader. Besides infrastructure, relief food supplies worth TZS 10,000,000, (approximately USD $5,000) were provided to 100 households who were victims of widespread flooding and the disastrous effects of extreme weather in early 2020. A motorcycle for patrolling the villages and the surrounding forest has also been procured for monitoring purposes. The numerous development projects have created incentives for local communities to look after their forests in a more responsible and sustainable manner.
Mr. Makala Jasper, the MCDI Chief Executive Director, is very optimistic that the Grumeti venture is a model that can be replicated for other potential buyers and developers. He stated, "at present, Grumeti Ecolodge is the main buyer of the communities' FSC certified timber and they are a game-changer, playing an invaluable role in changing the attitudes of buyers who are relying on illegal timber sources, and others who are implementing projects without sustainable forest management practices in mind.”
He shared further lessons from this venture, such as:
• Investing in high-efficiency sawmill is more beneficial for the forests and increases productivity. Records show a recovery rate of 60% attained by the high-efficiency community-owned mobile sawmills compared to a 30% recovery rate attained by using traditional technologies and pit sawing. In addition, economic gains are also achieved by increasing the value of one cubic meter of standing tree volume from TZS 260,000 to TZS 416,000 of sawn FSC certified timber, equivalent to a 60% increment. This demonstrates the sustainability of the FSC-CBFM model as well as securing improved income, employment, and livelihood at the community level.
• The value addition achieved through FSC certification is an opportunity to increase timber price, resulting in increased revenues for local communities. This is demonstrated by the 60% increase in revenues for the villages selling FSC-certified and kiln-dried sawn timber to the Grumeti Reserves Eco Lodge.
• As FSC certification allows communities to receive a higher premium for their timber, they are able to achieve a level of financial autonomy which allows them to continue future timber harvesting without external financing. This is a key aspect of MCDI’s model.
• It has been proven that the community-based sawn timber production model is a viable and effective strategy to enable villages to achieve a higher degree of financial autonomy. By managing their forests sustainably through the FSC Group Certificate Scheme, they increase the value and benefits that can be derived from responsible timber harvesting.
MCDI would like to thank Grumeti Reserves for choosing to purchase FSC-certified timber from community-managed forests. Their choice contributes to the responsible management of the forests where their timber is sourced.
Together, MCDI and Grumeti Reserves have contributed to the conservation of wildlife habitats and tropical forests in Tanzania whilst supporting the livelihoods of rural indigenous communities who depend on these forests for their survival.
For more information on MCDI: [url]http://www.mpingoconservation.org/[/url]