From Degradation to Regeneration: Kachambi Landscape Restoration, Tanzania

From Degradation to Regeneration: Landscape Restoration for Empowered Kachambi Communities.

Uvinza, Kigoma, Tanzania

Project Summary kachambi forest (5°01'55.65"S 31°08'59.99"E) is located in Uvinza, kigoma, in western Tanzania. The ongoing deforestation, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and unsustinable farming puts this crucial landscape at risks. The project intend to utilize integrated Nature based Solutions to reduce pressure on Kachambi Forest exploitation. The intervention will focus on protecting Kachambi Forest Reserve through Assisted Natural Regeneration and reforestation while supporting nearby communities with Syntropic Agroforestry in their farms, and forest produce income-generating activities by selling honey. By combining ecosystem restoration with livelihood improvement, the project aims to strengthen community resilience, reduce pressure on natural forests, and promote sustainable land management. Special attention will be given to women, youth, and local forest protectors to ensure inclusive participation, long-term ownership, and scalability of the approach.

The proposed project will be implemented in Kachambi Forest Reserve, located in Uvinza District in western Tanzania. The area is predominantly rural, with more than 80% of the population depending on smallholder agriculture and forest resources for their livelihoods. These communities rely heavily on natural ecosystems for food production, energy, income, and water regulation. The continued dependence in theses forest reserve pose a threat to it and its sustainability. However, the landscape is experiencing severe environmental degradation, which is directly undermining livelihoods and increasing poverty levels. The main drivers of degradation include:

• Deforestation, primarily driven by expansion of tobacco farming, charcoal production, and unsustainable fuelwood harvesting
• Tobacco curing practices, which require large quantities of fuelwood, significantly accelerating forest loss
• Soil degradation and declining fertility, resulting from continuous cultivation without adequate soil restoration practices
• Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including water regulation, soil protection, and pollinators
• Reduced agricultural productivity, leading to persistent food insecurity and declining household incomes.

In addition, the area is affected by population pressure, partly linked to the presence and movement of refugees from neighbouring countries, including Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This has increased demand for land, fuelwood, and other natural resources, further intensifying environmental degradation.

The combined effects of these challenges have led to: • Increased vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events such as droughts and erratic rainfall • Declining resilience of farming systems • Growing competition over natural resources Women and youth are disproportionately affected by these challenges. They face: • Limited access to land and productive resources • Restricted access to climate-smart technologies and extension services • Reduced participation in decision-making processes As a result, their capacity to adapt to environmental and economic shocks remains low, further exacerbating inequalities and poverty. Problem Justification Without targeted intervention, the ongoing degradation of forest landscapes and agricultural land in Kachambi Forest Reserve and surrounding areas will continue to undermine the ecological and economic foundations of rural livelihoods. This will result in: • Further decline in agricultural productivity due to deteriorating soil fertility • Increased food and income insecurity among smallholder households • Accelerated loss of biodiversity and critical ecosystem services • Heightened vulnerability of communities to climate variability and extreme weather events

These challenges are further exacerbated by unsustainable land-use practices and growing pressure on natural resources, disproportionately affecting women and youth who have limited access to adaptive resources and opportunities. therefore there is an urgent need for integrated, community-driven restoration approaches, particularly Assisted Natural Regeneration, to restore degraded landscapes, improve ecosystem functionality, and enhance sustainable livelihoods. Such an approach will not only rehabilitate natural resources but also strengthen community resilience and promote inclusive, long-term development.

Institutional Background Earth Healing Alliance is a Tanzanian non-profit organization dedicated to building resilient communities and restoring ecosystems through reforestation and agroforestry initiatives.We follow a locally rooted approach to restoration while maintaining the expertise and trust built over the previous six years.

Key ecosystem restoration approaches promoted by the Earth Healing Alliance include: • Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) • Reforestation initiatives • Regenerative/Syntropic Agroforestry • Community led ecosystem restoration • Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration(FMNR)

Planting Design and Management Strategy To maximize the long-term survival rates of our plantings, we are moving away from traditional block-style monocultures. Instead, our project implements a regenerative agroforestry model. This design mirrors natural ecological structures while ensuring that the land remains productive for smallholder farmers, providing immediate utility alongside ecosystem restoration. Density and Spacing Protocols • Rehabilitated Woodlots: In zones targeted for total restoration, we will employ a tighter planting density of 1.5m x 1.5m. This spacing is specifically chosen to encourage straight, vertical growth in timber species and to accelerate canopy closure, which effectively suppresses invasive weeds and minimizes soil moisture evaporation. • Agroforestry Intercropping: In areas currently under cultivation, we will use a wider grid (3m x 3m up to 5m x 5m). This layout is optimized for alley cropping, enabling farmers to continue seasonal maize or legume production between tree rows. Depending on the specific crop profile of the household, we aim for a target density of 300 trees per hectare.

Spatial Layout and Maintenance • Contour-Based Hedgerows: Nitrogen-fixing species such as Markhamia lutea and Albizia schimperiana, will be planted in rows that follow the natural contours of the land. These act as biological terraces, serving the critical function of trapping nutrient-rich sediment and reducing water runoff across the sloping terrain. • Timber Buffer Zones: High-value timber species, such as Pterocarpus angolensis, will be strategically positioned on farm boundaries or within dedicated woodlot clusters. This spatial segregation provides an extra layer of protection, shielding valuable saplings from accidental damage caused by farm machinery or livestock browsing. • Sustainable Nutrient Cycling: Our maintenance plan focuses on circular fertility. Trees will undergo regular pruning cycles, with the resulting biomass immediately incorporated into the soil as green manure. This process ensures that the reforestation efforts are directly contributing to the fertility of the surrounding food crops, creating a self-sustaining cycle of soil enrichment.

Post-Planting Care and Sustainability Plan For the Kachambi reforestation project to succeed, we rely on a combination of hands-on physical site maintenance and local community oversight. We know the first two years are the most critical for seedling establishment, so our approach is designed to provide consistent, localized support throughout the 12-month growing period.

Performance Targets and Corrective Actions Our accountability framework is built to ensure we hit our ecological targets. We track progress quarterly to catch issues early and make rapid adjustments if necessary. • Survival Targets: Our target is an 80% survival rate across all sites by the end of the 12-month project (July 2027). • Verification: Project coordinators and forestry experts will conduct quarterly audits. We will use a combination of GPS-tagged photographic evidence and random sampling across 10% of the project area to ensure our data accurately reflects field conditions. • Gap-Filling Protocol: We view ANR and reforestation as an adaptive process. If quarterly monitoring shows survival dropping below 75% in a specific plot, we will initiate a gap-filling effort during rainy season (January).

Key Project interventions Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) Assisted Natural Regeneration will serve as the project’s core restoration approach. This low-cost and scalable method helps farmers protect and manage naturally regenerating trees in the forest while introducing native species on their farmland. Key activities include: • Training 100 farmers in ANR and sustainable land management • Establishing a community tree nursery of 50,000 trees in total • Establishment of Forest Ambassadors Clubs in two primary schools around Kachambi forest • Restore 1000 hectares through Asssisted Natural Regeneration • Supporting community bylaws for landscape restoration

Strengthening the Mitigation of Degradation Drivers To effectively address the drivers of deforestation in the Kachambi landscape, the Earth Healing Alliance (EHA) project moves beyond merely encouraging conservation; it focuses on creating a tangible economic and energy-based transition for the local farming community. By framing our intervention as a shift from "extraction-based" to "regenerative" livelihoods, we directly tackle the root causes of land degradation: the need for income from charcoal and the fuel requirements for tobacco curing.

The Agroforestry Pivot for Tobacco Farmers Tobacco farming is an extractive practice, requiring both continuous expansion into new, fertile forest land and massive amounts of fuel-wood for the curing process. Our intervention replaces this model with an integrated agroforestry system that stabilizes household income: Yield Stabilization: By introducing nitrogen-fixing species (such as Albizia schimperiana) alongside food crops, we improve soil fertility naturally. This creates higher yields on existing, dedicated farm plots, effectively removing the farmer’s incentive to clear new virgin forest land for better soil.

The Energy Hedge: We are establishing on-farm woodlots specifically for fuel-wood production. By planting fast-growing, coppicing species (species that regrow after being cut) in designated areas of the farm, we create a sustainable, private supply of energy. This directly decouples the farmer’s fuel needs from the destruction of the natural forest reserves.

Replacing Charcoal Income with Forest Wealth Charcoal production is often a poverty safety net, it is the only immediate source of cash for many families. Our project transitions households from this extractive model to a Living Bank model, where the standing tree is worth more than the charcoal it produces: Apiculture Integration: We are training farmers in beekeeping using Tanzania Top Bar Hives (TTBH) within our restoration zones. Beekeeping requires a healthy, flowering canopy to thrive. This creates an immediate economic incentive for the community to protect the trees they have planted, as the forest becomes the infrastructure for their honey production business. High-Value Perennials: We are introducing non-timber forest products such as native fruit trees and medicinal plants that provide annual income streams. This diversifies a farmer's portfolio, ensuring they do not have to rely on a single, environmentally destructive commodity like charcoal to survive the lean months between crop harvests.

Transitioning the Energy Economy We are not just planting trees; we are shifting the local energy supply chain: Sustainable Biomass: Through the pruning and thinning of our regenerative woodlots, farmers gain access to a consistent, sustainable stream of biomass. This ensures that their domestic and agricultural energy needs are met using farmed wood, rather than mined wood from the Kachambi Forest Reserve. Efficiency: By professionalizing the woodlots, we are essentially moving the supply from the forest to the farm. This reduction in demand on the natural landscape allows the Kachambi ecosystem to regenerate naturally through Assisted Natural Regeneration(ANR), as the pressure of illegal logging for charcoal is significantly reduced.

Kachambi Forest Reserve The project has been developed through a participatory and consultative process involving the Earth Healing Alliance the local implementing organization, target communities, and key stakeholders in forestry department in Uvinza District Council, and village leaders around Kachambi Forest Reserve. Kachambi Forest Reserve is located at Uvinza district, Kigoma region, Tanzania (5°01'55.65"S 31°08'59.99"E). The design of the project builds on: • Field experience of the implementing agency in regenerative agroforestry, ecosystem restoration, and community-based natural resource management • Preliminary consultations with: o Village leaders and community members o Farmer groups and youth representatives o Local government authorities in the district level and village. Project Goal To improve climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods of communities around Kachambi forest through integrated Nature based Solutions approach.

Specific Objectives

• To strengthen stakeholder capacity and knowledge at community and institutional levels to promote Nature-Based Solutions, sustainable natural resource management, and community stewardship of Kachambi Forest Reserve
• To restore degraded buffer landscapes through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and afforestation interventions
• To promote the adoption of syntropic agroforestry systems to enhance land productivity, soil fertility, and resilience of smallholder farming systems
• To improve community livelihoods through sustainable, nature-based income-generating activities that enhance household income while supporting ecosystem services

Expected Outcomes The project will deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic outcomes aligned with the stated objectives and Syntropic Agroforestry approach. Outcome 1: Restored and Sustainably Managed Landscapes • 1,000 hectares of degraded buffer landscapes restored through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) o 500 ha under afforestation with indigenous and climate-resilient species • 100 hectares(1 ha each farmer) of smallholder farms under Syntropic agroforestry systems • Improved vegetation cover and ecosystem functionality across target areas

Outcome 2: Enhanced Climate Resilience and Ecosystem Services • 20% increase in carbon stocks across 1,500 hectares, achieved through:

• Improved organic matter management
• Reduced bush burning
• Increased tree and vegetation cover
• Reduced sediment load and improved water quality in catchments linked to Lake Tanganyika and the Malagarasi River basin.
• Improved soil health, water retention, and watershed protection Outcome 3: Improved Agricultural Productivity and Livelihoods
• At least 10% increase in productivity of crops, livestock, and non-forest products
• Diversified and strengthened income sources through nature-based enterprises (e.g., beekeeping, agroforestry products)
• Reduced dependency on unsustainable forest resource extraction

Outcome 4: Strengthened Community Capacity and Institutional Systems

• 100 direct beneficiaries trained (farmers, women, youth, local leaders) on Regenerative Agroforestry practices, agroforestry, restoration, and sustainable livelihoods
• 600 indirect beneficiaries reached through knowledge diffusion and community networks
• Strengthened local institutions, including community groups and catchment committees, to support sustainable resource management

Outcome 5: Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Connectivity

• Improved habitat quality and ecosystem connectivity within the broader Moyowosi Game reserve and Malagarasi landscape
• Enhanced protection of biodiversity corridors and ecosystem services.

Drivers of Degradation Our site visits identified three main factors that are currently driving forest fragmentation and biodiversity loss in the region: High-Intensity Fuelwood Extraction: The region’s reliance on fuelwood specifically for tobacco curing and charcoal production is the single largest driver of deforestation. This demand is currently bearing down on the few remaining patches of dense, indigenous woodland, leaving them in a state of continuous decline.

Shifting Cultivation: Agricultural encroachment remains a standard practice. Because soil fertility on cleared plots drops quickly due to leaching, farmers are forced to abandon older plots and clear new, virgin forest land to maintain their yields. This creates a destructive, repetitive cycle of clearing and degradation.

Invasive Species and Fire Cycles: The removal of keystone canopy species has shifted the local microclimate, allowing fire-prone, invasive grasses to colonize the area. These grasses actively outcompete native tree saplings. Because low-intensity agricultural fires are so frequent, the land is effectively prevented from returning to a forested state, keeping it trapped in a degraded grassland cycle season after season.

Project Timeline One Year (12 months): Project Duration (August 2026 to July 2027) August 2026: Kick-off meetings with village leadership and community mapping. Define the exact boundaries for the 1,000-hectare restoration site. September 2026: Tree Nursery site establishment of 50,000 seedlings October 2026: Community training sessions on ANR (Assisted Natural Regeneration), regenerative agroforestry and Beekeeping Trainings November 2026: Soil testing for initial sites and Tree planting begins after the arrival of the rains, commencement to the first round of planting across the primary identified plots and distribution of 700 beehives to farmers. December 2026: Field demonstrations on agroforestry intercropping (planting crops within the restoration zones) and intensive planting phase January 2027: Early weed control around young tree clusters in the forest. February 2027: Practical field training workshops (FMNR techniques) while the vegetation is active. March 2027: Mid-season site inspections to monitor growth rates and ensure livestock exclusion. April 2027: Document initial survival rates and conduct the first community check in to discuss site successes and challenges. May 2027: End of the main rainy season and transition focus to site and perform a full audit of survival rates and bee honey harvest from the beehives. June 2027: Bee Honey extraction, processing and packaging ready to be taken to the market. July 2027: Finalizing community management committees to take over the sites. Preparing final reports and financial auditing report for the donors, project phase out, final exit meetings and project sign-off.

Project Budget

Total Funding Requested: USD $7,600 Capacity Building and Governance – USD $1,500 Baseline survey and stakeholder mapping Community awareness meetings Training workshops on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and governance Training materials and printing Restoration (ANR and Afforestation) – USD $2,200 Site identification and restoration planning Community nursery establishment Seedling production and distribution Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) implementation Afforestation activities and maintenance Soil and water conservation measures Syntropic Agroforestry Systems – USD $1,500 Farmer training on regenerative agroforestry Establishment of demonstration plots Seedling distribution Extension and technical support services Livelihoods and Enterprises – USD $1,400 Beekeeping training sessions Provision of Top Bar beehives and starter kits Value addition training Branding and market linkage facilitation Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation – USD $1,000 Project coordination and field supervision Monitoring and evaluation activities Financial accountability and reporting Grand Total: USD $7,600