CREMA CONSTITUTIONAL FORMULATION FOR MWANKUOLO LANKAA MWINIKUUBI - WA BULENGE

CREMA is a community program which is supported by world bank. Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) is organized to empower community members on how to manage their forest resources. CREMA is established through out the county in some selected communities. They have representatives from some selected communities who come together to form an executive board which is CEC this CREMA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE and the legal right is given to them in a form of a certificate by the government to manage their own resources.

The CREAM team is set to have patrol team to ensure the proper usage of the forest resources. CREAM intends to improve livelihood and income, natural resource management and empowerment of communities to control access to forest resource. During the structural process of the constitution, members made some few amendments including the logo and the meaning to it and also the Moto for the logo.

Members were excited to welcome such program to help reduce the rate of deforestation in Bulenge and its surrounding communities. Sharing their excitement with us, Mr. Joseph Binlinla the regional wild life manager of Wild Life Division of Forestry Commission explained the need and importance of bringing CREMA to Bulenge and its surrounding communities. “ Basically, what we came to do here today is to continue with the establishment of CREMA for the paramountcy of Manwe and Bulenge, we have identified 14 communities within the two traditional areas in the Wa-East district. The government can not do all on his own so he asked that the people should protect their own, that’s how come we brought up CREMA. Also looking at Bulenge, the community is still rich in the forest resources and it is good to start protecting it now. The forest reserve those that are close to the CREMA we are establishing are two, the Culbon Tributaries and the Ambalala forest reserve. The forest reserve is being manage by the forest department and it’s a no go area for the community but those other lands that are not in any for of reservation are the areas people go to take charge and cut down trees so we are asking the communities to take charge of those lands and that’s why we brought CREMA.”

Community members were also excited to welcome such initiative which will go a long way to help the communities involve.

“ Our traditional area is enriched in natural resources and if care is not taken seriously, years to come we might loose them. But with CREAM I am for seeing that, it will benefit the community more than enough.” Hon. Ali Mohammed added.