The objective of this paper is to present the prevailing and future forestry outlook for Tanzania. The main attributes of the forest sector are briefly described and their present and future situations outlined.
Tanzania has about 33.5 million ha of forests and woodlands (MNRT, 1998). Almost two thirds of this area consists of woodlands on public lands, 13 million ha have been gazetted as forest reserves (MNRT, 1998). The forest reserve area includes about 80,000 hectares of plantations, mainly consisting of Pinus patula and Cupressus lusitanica. The reserves include 1.6 million ha, which are managed as catchment forests. About 6% of the forest area is within National Parks.
1.2.1 Source of Energy
It is estimated that more than 90% of the population in Tanzania, both in urban and rural areas, use biomass energy for cooking and heating. Hence bio-energy is the main source of fuel for country’s population and accounts for approximately 90% of the total energy consumption in the country (FBD, 2000). The estimated per capita consumption of wood fuel is 1 m³.
1.2.2 Employment
Through multiple effects the livelihoods of many more people are linked to forestry as it is estimated that forest based activities generate employment to about 800,000 people per year; half of them women (FBD, 2000).
1.2.3 Non-Wood Forest Products and Services
Forests provide various non-wood products (NWFPs), which are important to the livelihoods of many Tanzanians. The NWFPs include fruits, nuts, traditional medicine, honey, beeswax, tannins and gum arabic (MNRT 1998). Forests also provide shelter for wild animals, which are the bases of tourism industry. The beekeeping industry is also very important.
1.2.4 Protective Function
29% of the forest area in Tanzania is categorized as protection forest. Forests, especially those on steep slopes, have been reserved as catchment forests to protect land from erosion as well as water sources, vital for human and animal populations. For example, the Eastern Arc mountain forests are essential to urban populations as they are sources of the rivers supplying water to Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Morogoro (VPO, 1998). These forests also secure water supply for hydroelectric plants.
1.2.5 Productive Function
About 71% of the forest area in Tanzania is used for productive purposes. Besides fuel wood, forests are source of logs for timber, paper products, wood based panels and poles.
1.2.6 Provision of Fodder
Forests are the major sources of fodder for livestock. Most farmers in the country exercise free grazing most of which is carried out in the woodlands.
1.2.7 Biodiversity
Tanzania is one of the richest countries in biodiversity. With at least 310 mammal species, the country has Africa’s fourth largest number of mammals; also the species richness of birds, plants, amphibians and reptiles are among the highest in Africa. Moreover, the country contains one of the biodiversity hotspot areas in the world: the Eastern Pare Mountains (Mugabe J. and Clark N., 1998).
The public lands are under enormous pressure from expansion of agricultural activities, livestock grazing, fires, charcoal burning and other human activities. VPO (1998) outlines other causes of deforestation as poverty, loss of traditional knowledge in forest management, population dynamics, and poor agricultural practices. On the other hand, the resettlement of refugees in Western and Southern Tanzania has necessitated the clearing of large areas for human settlements and over-exploitation of forest and game resources for fuel and food. Other threats include unclear boundaries, lack of systematic management, illegal logging and insufficient revenue collection (FBD, 2000).
Management in the forestry context has in the past meant management of only the trees, usually with the objective to maximize production of wood. Today, many other factors related to social, economic and environmental aspects have to be considered (FBD 2000). The revised forest policy encourages participation of all stakeholders in forest management through joint management agreements, with appropriate user rights, benefits and establishment of village forest reserves which will be managed by the village governments or other entities designated by village governments (MNRT, 1998). The vision for the future is to transfer most management activities to the private sector, Executive Agencies, village governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and individuals.
The revision of the forest policy has been made along with the revision of the forest legislation. The revised forest ordinance will enable proper implementation of the forest policy.
