What level of government holds powers over forests – and decisions affecting forests – in mainland Tanzania? Which powers and responsibilities are centralized, and which are decentralized? What role can citizens play?

Who makes land-use decisions, how are those decisions made, and who influences whom, how and why? This working paper is part of a series based on research studying multilevel decision-making institutions and processes. The series is aimed at providing insight into why efforts to keep forests standing, such as initiatives like Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), are still so far from altering development trajectories. It underlines the importance of understanding the politics of multilevel governance in forest, land and climate policy and practice, and identifies potential ways forward, while highlighting the role of conservation and sustainable management of forests for the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) assessed the legal frameworks that govern land-use activities and investments in Tanzania. The policy, institutional and legal frameworks are well developed although implementation and enforcement remains weak due to ambiguities in the law and a general lack of supportive incentives. This Legal Assessment report for Tanzania examines four key challenges to the attainment of sustainable land-use investments. These comprise: Enforcement of environmental and social safeguards Tanzania has made progress in implementing the Environmental Management Act by ensuring greater compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations although exceptions exist in the construction sector, and mining legislation that often enables the government to circumvent important land tenure safeguards. Incentives for sustainable investments in the legal framework A lack of incentives exists despite the creation of the Tanzania Investment Centre, the adoption of an Investment Guide in 2013, and the incorporation of sustainability considerations into laws and policies governing investments in the agriculture, energy, and forestry and mining sectors. Land tenure security Tanzania’s land law framework now includes formal recognition of customary title and the reservation of land under the category of village land exclusively for Tanzanians although improvements are still needed in terms of processes of consultation and compensation. Public awareness and lack of access to information Awareness of natural resources and investment policies, legislation and regulations is generally low amongst rural communities as well as Ward executive officers, village leaders and village land committee members. Rural radio represents their most important source of information

This country profile for Tanzania provides an overview on the socioeconomic and political context within which REDD+ policies and processes emerge. It explores the Tanzanian REDD+ policy processes and strategies at the national level, identifying barriers, limits and opportunities in national REDD+ arenas to inform future REDD+ design by providing research-based options for achieving efficient, effective and equitable REDD+ (i.e. the 3Es of REDD+). Both direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are at work, including forest conversion to small-scale agriculture, timber extraction driven by demand from national and international markets, fuelwood and charcoal, and population growth. The prospects for REDD+ rest on improving a number of issues: tenure arrangements, forest governance, reliability of long-term funding, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and technical, human and financial capacity. We recommend the continuation of support towards decentralized sustainable forest management and utilization of the participatory forest management model as an entry point for REDD+ initiatives. Participatory land-use planning practices coupled with improved spatial planning and strengthening mechanisms against illegal activities entrenched in driving forest degradation are needed. In addition, for REDD+ to succeed it will need to challenge and overcome the powerful actors invested in and driving the business-as-usual model.