3.0 REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY ON ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

The task of deciding the amount of pollutants a community might reasonably be expected to discharge in water, air or the land is highly complex. It must take into account many factors, including conflicting interests.

On the one hand, development demands the use of natural resources, but on the other hand, there is an optimum level beyond which negative effects can be accepted. Tanzania is blessed with a rich variety of natural resources, big and small, which must be protected. The rich variety of nature must be preserved as well as safe-guarding the human health. Through knowledge and experience a well balanced ecosystem must eventually be given priority.

The draft National Environment Policy for Tanzania is being reviewed with the aim of ensuring that sustainable development is one of its broad objectives. One of the broad objectives of the policy is to ensure and control degradation of land, water and air which constitute our life-supporting systems.