The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) under it’s Network of frontline Environmental Human Rights Defenders (Net-FEHRDs), in collaboration with MAIPAC with support from UNESCO, is conducting a two days (19-20 Mei 2026) Legal Awareness Training on Environmental Journalism for journalists from Tanzania’s Lake Zone.

During the opening session, THRDC’s Director of Programs and Operations, Ms. Halima Sonda, emphasized the critical role of environmental journalists in promoting accountability, protecting environmental rights, and advancing sustainable environmental governance through accurate and ethical reporting.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of MAIPAC, Mr. Mussa Juma, highlighted the key challenges facing environmental journalists in Tanzania, including limited access to information, inadequate legal awareness, and increasing risks associated with reporting on environmental and natural resource issues.

Prior to the training, participants completed a pre-assessment evaluation aimed at measuring their understanding on environmental journalism and related legal frameworks. The assessment findings revealed that only 32% of participants demonstrated a moderate level of understanding of environmental journalism concepts and practices.

Following the end of the training, THRDC will conduct a post-training evaluation to assess improvements in participants’ knowledge, skills, and capacity to effectively report on environmental and human rights issues within their communities.

This is not just a training it is an opportunity to protect both people and nature in consideration of the primary role played by journalists in the community and environmental protection.