TNRF was formed in 2001 as the Wildlife Working Group (WWG) by a small informal group of people wishing to promote a new rights-based approach for addressing critical natural resource management issues in Tanzania.

This approach holds that natural resource management challenges should not be simply approached as technical and often isolated 'conservation' issues. Instead, resource management needs to be achieved holistically taking into consideration the integrated management of different resource bases, such as forests, fisheries, wildlife and rangelands.

Critically there is a great need to engage with the fundamentals upon which the management of natural resources is dependent - governance, democracy and livelihoods. These key factors are integral to TNRF's promotion of a devolved 'rights-based' approach necessary for achieving its vision of equitable, sustainable and transparent management of Tanzania's natural resources.

Interventions:

Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas and Territories project (ICCA)

This intervention isis funded by UNDP through IUCN.  In Tanzania, the project is implemented by Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF).  The overall objective of this project is to strengthen and support ICCAs communities to effectively engage in the management and conservation of the identified ICCAs, through establishment of a national ICCA database, documentation and publication of ICCAs situation in Tanzania that will inform and increase its recognition national-wide.

Ardhi Yetu Project Plus (AYP plus)

Ardhi Yetu Project Plus (AYP plus) is a four years project commenced from 2018 to 2021, implemented by Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) in selected four districts in Manyara, Dodoma and Iringa regions. The project is funded by Care International in Denmark through Care International in Tanzania, with the theory of change; If farmers and pastoralists - particularly women - are empowered to hold local authorities to account, have security to invest in land (access to land), are able to protect their investments against climate change via adaptation, receive support from strong civil society networks and organizations, and legal frameworks and institutions are responsive to land resource governance (enabling environment), then they will be able to sustain land ownership against external pressures, be resilient to shocks and stresses, and positively contribute to Tanzania’s economic growth.