During the first workshop of the Local Implementation Group in Amani, Tanzania, fifteen stakeholders with a diverse background, from farmers, via village executives to conservationists, discussed invasive alien species management in the area. Two scientists of the Woody Weeds project are also participating as stakeholders. Through a structured learning process, the stakeholders identified and ranked alien invasive species of concern according to their perceived impacts, as well as five known management methods that are being used against the species.

The members of the group recognised the usefulness of the structured learning method involving local stakeholders and acknowledged the importance of mutual learning. The participants mentioned that this was the first workshop involving very different stakeholders and named previous projects that have failed because of insufficient local stakeholder involvement. The workshop also helped communication between farmers and extension officers.

A short report describing the first workshop and the lessons learnt can be found here.

Further workshops are planned later this year where the members of the group will document the identified management methods and jointly decide on aims of the IAS management in the area. They will also decide the management methods that will be implemented as part of a trial.