Important knowledge about woody invasive species and how to manage them was shared at a stakeholder engagement workshop in Tanzania at the end of November 2015.

The workshop was held during a Woody Weeds project meeting in Amani Nature Reserve and local, regional and national stakeholders were invited to find out about the programme and have their say on how these invasive species affect livelihoods.

Around 30 stakeholders joined the project team, including the Tanga region commissioner, the Conservator of Amani Nature Reserve, the Director-General of the Tanzanian Forest Research Institute (TAFORI), as well as several village executives and village chairs.

In group exercises, participants shared knowledge about woody invasive species in the region and sustainable management techniques used to control them.

Workshop attendees also identified stakeholders that were seen as the most relevant for the management of woody weeds in Tanzania. These audiences were prioritised by considering how they were potentially able to help tackle the problem and their current engagement with the issue.

The meeting noted that some stakeholders may be unaware of the impacts the weeds have on livelihoods or currently not affected. The project and local stakeholders will work to engage with these important stakeholders in Tanzania to help improve the management of woody weeds.

We thank the participants in the workshop for their time and enthusiastic input, and look forward to future collaboration.

René Eschen, CABI

Stakeholders and project participants during the one-day workshop. (Photo: René Eschen/CABI)

Stakeholders explained to the other participants in the workshop how woody weeds affect them. (Photo: René Eschen/CABI)

Local stakeholders participating in the workshop. (Photo: René Eschen/CABI)

Deciding which stakeholders are key for woody weeds management. (Photo: René Eschen/CABI)

Tanzanian stakeholders discuss sustainable land management and how it affects woody weeds. (Photo: René Eschen/CABI)