Kigoma, Katavi regions - The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations (UN) Migration Agency in collaboration with the Environment Division of the Vice President’s Office facilitated two workshops in Kigoma and Katavi regions from 21 to 25 June 2021.

The major objectives of the two workshops were to review and develop the environmental and livestock by-laws in Kigoma and Katavi regions.

Workshop participants were Government officers and representatives from local environment committees, environment Livestock officers and Legal Officers from 8 districts in Kigoma and 5 districts in Katavi region respectively.

By empowering the Local Government authorities and local environment committees through the workshops will address the conflicts between host community and livestock migrants over natural resources, environmental degradation and pollution, water and forest resources management.

During the workshop, participants mentioned challenges hindering the implementation of the existing environmental and livestock by-laws including limited financial and human resources, low knowledge among community members on existing by-laws, and the fact that many villages they do not have a land use plan. Participants acknowledged that migration of livestock causes environmental degradation.

The outcomes of the workshops include:

1) Improved understanding of the participants on the existing Environment Management Act and steps to be taken on development of the environmental and livestock by-laws.

2) Suggested areas/section of the existing environmental and livestock by-laws to be reviewed.

3) Proposed new environmental and livestock by-laws to be presented to the township and district council authorities of Kigoma and Katavi regions, and

4) Shared experience and best practices among the participants to address the Migration, Environmental and Climate Change associated challenges.

Various workshop participants articulated their plans to utilize the knowledge attained and to advise the Local Government Authorities and local environmental committees to develop new environmental and livestock by-laws for their districts with the aim of revising the existing environmental and livestock by-laws and proposing new by-laws to be presented to the district and township authorities for further review and approval.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Reuben Mbugi at rmbugi@iom.int or tel.: +255 718 983 910