Tanzania: Extra Efforts Are Needed to Protect Country's Forests

DEFORESTATION and forest degradation contribute about 20 per cent of the global emissions that escalate climate change.

In developing countries such as Tanzania, whose major source of livelihood especially in the rural lifestyles is majorly forest deforestation, there are major challenges of finding alternative sustainable sources of livelihood to conserve forest state.

According to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, Tanzania is partnering with developed countries to support its efforts of developing sustainable resources of livelihood to conserve forests.

"That is why at our ministry we have resolved to deal seriously with people who cut trees recklessly and we shall make sure that people destroying our trees and sources of water will be brought before a court of law to face the law. Personally I intend to go to forests alongside my officers to arrest such law defaulters", Mr Nyalandu told journalists who were covering World Wood Day celebrations at the Karimjee grounds last week.

During the celebrations to mark the day, it was said that wanton destruction of forests estimated between 130,000 and 500,000 hectares per year has caught the attention of the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) currently set to unveil a comprehensive plan to control deforestation and increase community awareness on tree planting and conservation of the environment.

TFS Chief Executive Mr Juma Mgoo said recent estimates show that the total wood consumption in Tanzania is about 87 million cubic metres while the annual growth is about 76 million cubic metres; hence makes an annual wood deficit of about 11 million cubic metres. "A comprehensive road map will be unveiled shortly entailing all-inclusive forest protection measures that includes compulsory tree planting by individuals, institutions and other parties using wood fuel to bridge the gap," Mgoo explained.

In the course of implementation of the detailed dossier, said the CEO, the perception that tree planting and conservation of the environment was government's business will be brushed aside. The main causes of loss of Tanzania's forest, woodlands and biodiversity include shifting cultivation, planned agriculture, development of settlements, overgrazing, uncontrolled fires and cutting trees for charcoal production as well as over-exploitation of forest resources for income generation and domestic uses.