National Environmental Policy (NEP) 2021.

This National Environmental Policy is the second sectoral document of Tanzania aiming at revising the NEP of 1997 to accommodate new developments and provide comprehensive policy directives that will address both the prevailing and emerging environmental challenges. It serves as a national framework for planning and sustainable management of the environment in a coordinated, holistic, and adaptive approach. As a long-term vision, this Policy aims to the realization of environmental integrity, assurance of food security, poverty alleviation, and increased contribution of environmental resources to the national economy. Furthermore, there are emerging environmental challenges that were not explicitly addressed in the first NEP namely climate change; invasive species; electrical and electronic equipment wastes (e-wastes); Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); management of oil and gas; and sound management of chemicals. In addition, the revised policy takes into account cross-cutting issues such as good governance, gender, and resource mobilization. The specific objectives of this NEP are (i) strengthening the coordination of environmental management in sectors; (ii) enhancing environmentally sound management of land resources for socio-economic development; (iii) promoting environmental management of water sources; (iv) strengthening conservation of wildlife habitats and biodiversity; (v) enhancing conservation of forest ecosystems for sustainable provision of environmental goods and services; (vi) managing pollution; (vii) strengthening the national capacity for addressing climate change impacts; (viii) enhancing conservation of aquatic ecosystem for socio-economic well-being; (ix) ensuring the safety of application of modern biotechnology; (x) promoting gender consideration in environmental management; (xi) promoting good governance in environmental management; (xii) ensuring predictable, accessible, adequate, and sustainable financial resources for environmental management.
To achieve its objectives, the Policy proposes the adoption, among others, of the following measures (i) promote security in land tenure systems and enhance involvement and empowerment of communities and other stakeholders in land utilization and management; (ii) strengthen cross sectoral coordination in the sustainable management of water sources, including the public participation and awareness as well as an enhanced collaboration in the management of trans-boundary water sources; (iii) enhance regional and international cooperation in addressing loss of wildlife habitats and biodiversity, and promote (a) access and equitable benefit sharing of genetic resources, (b) engagement of private sector in conservation activities, (c) trans-boundary conservation initiatives, and (d) preventive and management measures against Invasive Species; (iv) strengthen cross-sectoral and trans-boundary coordination and collaboration in the management of marine, freshwater bodies and wetlands, also encouraging the participation of the private sector; (v) promote integrated practices in addressing deforestation, encouraging the private sector to invest in forest management, and develop alternative sources of energy which are readily accessible and affordable to public; (vi) strengthen national capacity in waste management, urban planning, and control of noise pollution, while enhancing the public awareness as well as regional and international cooperation.
As for the Governance in environmental management and NEP implementation, it is deemed necessary to (i) strengthen accountability, transparency, participation, and rule of law; (ii) promote awareness of good governance; (iii) facilitate the availability of adequate resources for environmental protection and management; and (iv) create an enabling environment that attracts Private Sector to finance and invest in environmental management interventions.