EFLOWS Project Research Results Workshop held in Mbarali district September 07, 2023 at Jumbo Hotel - Rujewa

 Calvin Gwabara and Amina Hezron

The Government has commended the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) for their efforts to help restore natural vegetation to water sources as well as conducting research and providing results that will help the Government make the right decisions.

Mbarali District Commissioner, Hon. Col. Denis Mwila speaking during the opening of the Workshop

This has been explicated by the Mbarali District Commissioner, Hon. Col. Denis Mwila during the opening a workshop to present the results of the project's research on the Sustainable Catchment Management through Enhanced Environmental Flows Assessment and Implementation for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities in Tanzania (EFLOWS) held in Rujewa, Mbeya Region.

"There is a big security impact that seems to be coming to the fore now due to the destruction of the environment but if you look carefully and according to several books I have read, it seems that the third world war will be a water war and this has started to manifest itself in various areas and a good example is the area of the Nile River and even when I pass through my district to talk to the citizens, the issue of water is the biggest cry" explained Hon. Col. Mwela.

He said that the good detailed and scientific results of the EFLOWS Project research will be well reviewed and used in the implementation of various conservation plans through the recommendations given to help conserve water sources and the environment for the benefit of the nation as the water sources are located in the southern highlands, that is normally flow its water into the main Ruaha River, Mtera Dam, Kidatu Dam and finally Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project.

He said that there has been little understanding of the community and some leaders in matters of environmental conservation and water sources, that is why when the Government takes measures to prevent certain human activities in important areas of water sources and reservoirs, many complaints arise, the main source of which is the selfishness of a few people who do not care about the interests of the majority of people and the Nation.

"If the highlands do not take care of water sources and follow environmental protection laws, the large Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project will not work and will cause the country to lack enough electricity to run Industries, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and other community activities will come to a standstill because this energy is important for everyone" explained Col. Mwela.

For his part, the Principal Investigator of the EFLOWS Project from SUA, Prof. Japhet Kashaigili has said that during the two years of the research, a detailed assessment has been carried out to check the condition of the water sources of the Mbarali River, the health of the river, the nature of the river and its vegetation through specialists in the country from various institutions in the country and local people especially water user associations.

Principal Investigator for EFLOWS Project Prof. Japhet Kashaigili presenting the objectives of the Workshop

"When we came to introduce the project, we invited all the water stakeholders of the Mbarali River and we explained to them the objectives of our coming for this research and many of you also participated during the research itself throughout the period and after completing the processing of the results of what we observed scientifically, we now think it is good to come back again to you to provide feedback so that we can use the results together to help protect the sources of our rivers and the environment for the benefit of the Nation" explained Prof. Kashaigili.

He added that "the second goal is to discuss the steps to be taken to achieve the management goals and the implementation plan, the stakeholders’ responsibilities, plans and cooperation so that we can all agree on what to do and participate fully as we depend on each other with the same expression that if you want to go far go with your colleagues, but if you want to go fast, go alone and our goal is to get far, so we must go together".

Prof. Kashaigili noted that the data and samples were collected at the four characterized areas and the exercise was done during the dry season when the water depth in the river is low and during the wet season when the river is full of water from the source of the river in Wanging'ombe and Mbarali District where the river pour its water into the Great Ruaha River.

Director of Environmental Studies from NEMC, Dr. Menan Jangu speaking on behalf of the Director General for NEMC

On his part, the Director of Environmental Studies from (NEMC) Dr. Menan Jangu said that the Council has a great responsibility to ensure that the national strategic projects that has started reach their goals by obtaining the necessary needs through the conservations of the environment and water sources.

He said that it is clear that the Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity and available services continue to face great challenges due to the population increase, the increase in demand and that if these challenges are not solved, many resources may disappear, especially the flow of water which is the life of wildlife, humans and large projects of energy production in the country.

"The implementation of this study is one of the goals of NEMC to ensure that there are good and detailed studies that are carried out in the country in the area of the environment to obtain results and scientific solutions that will help preserve the environment and water sources as well as methods to restore the rivers which have been affected by human activities or natural disasters" explained Dr. Jangu.

The Director of Environmental Studies has said that the results of the study give an indication of the current situation and know whether it is still the right direction or there are areas to be worked on and that is why in the research area NEMC is working with stakeholders and other institutions as in this project between SUA, NEMC and other stakeholders.

A researcher from SUA, Dr. Winfred Mbungu presenting results on Environmental Flows Assessment for Mbarali River

This research project is implemented by the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in collaboration with the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and implemented in the Mbarali River Catchment within the Rufiji River Basin in collaboration with the Rufiji Basin Water Board, Water User Associations, Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), Mbarali and Wanging`ombe Districts and communities, with funding from the United Nations Environment Program, UNEP, through contributions from ten Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention whereas for Tanzania it is through the Office of the Vice President, Division of Environment, in implementing the Strategic Action Plan for the Western Indian Ocean under the coordination of the Secretariat of the Nairobi Convention.

Stakeholders of the Mbarali River in Mbeya Region in a Group photos