- Tree planting
- Natural forests conservation
- Water sources management
- Awareness raising on environmental conservation
- Global warming
- HIV/AIDS awareness raising
- Income generating activities
In the past decade mountains surrounding Njombe West Constituency used to play a key role in natural resources productivity and wild animals. The estimated 2,700 hectors of natural forestland comprises of high level of biodiversity, population increase caused more demand for forestry produce, arable land for cultivation, and hunting activities have been created. Shifting cultivation, which is associated with use of fire, became rampant and soil erosion continued unchecked. Wildfires coupled with illegal over – exploitation of forest products also became subsequent phenomena, which reached an alarming stage.
Consequently, both the viable ecosystems and potential agricultural land become impaired or depleted to the extend of threatening the appearance of rare and endemic plant and animal species. This situation to a great extent disturbed the equilibrium of rural livelihood and their relationship with the natural resource base. For example women in Wangama village had to walk 16 km in search of firewood thus undermining their roles in agricultural production and childcare also youth started moving to town for search of jobs and life
This has serious implications considering that hundred percent in our community depends on firewood and charcoal as their major source of energy while at the same time an estimated 20% of the existing woodland is cleared annually due to uncontrolled tree felling and cultivation.
NJOWECA was formed in order to solve the environmentally related problems. Within the framework we developed an income-generating project in order to solve the environmentally related problems because poverty is both a cause and symptom of environmental degradation.
The community suffered from these two categorized environmental related problems decline of Household energy; hundred percent in our community depend on firewood and charcoal. Shifting cultivation, over exploitation of natural forest products, uncontrolled grazing hence devegetation and soil erosion has caused this. Women had to walk more than 16km searching for firewood thus undermining their roles in agricultural production and childcare. We have developed forest farms closer to household hence reducing women’s workload.
Degraded Land due to bad agricultural practice.
Decline in commodity prices of farmer’s principal cash crops such as maize, pyrethrum, coffee and beans. Farmers are increasingly viewing timber as active cash generating farm enterprise hence reducing poverty at large.
Other Projects
TWIME (lets move) HIV/AIDS Project
Working with women and girls.
NJOWECA is hoping to increase understanding amongst girls and women, parents and teachers of about the cause, symptoms, spread, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
NJOWECA is aiming to increasing number of girls and women visiting clinics for sexual health related consultations.
NJOWECA is aiming at building self esteem, awareness and confidence to affected women and girls in the society in order to improve their social integration with other members of community after having visited Health Centers for STI and HIV testing.
NJOWECA will ensure increased number of girls and women being treated for STIs and also make sure that there is positive outcome by lowering of infection rates of STIs amongst women and girls
