The Forest resources of Tanzania have been described under the preceding sections. However, the same can be revisited under three main forestland management categories namely; central and local government forest reserves, forests on public land and private and community forests.
3.1.1 Central and Local Government Forest Reserves
Out of the 13 million ha gazetted forest reserves, predominantly owned and managed by the central government through the Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD) in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, only about 600,000 ha are under the ownership and management of local government. Another significant area is under national parks and game reserves under the Wildlife sector. Gazetted forests are under a continuous threat due to encroachment, shifting cultivation, wildfires, unclear boundaries, illegal logging etc. High population around these forest reserves is the main driving force. This partly means the actual area is less than what is reported. Very little is done to track changes in forests and woodlands.
However there is an increasing pressure at present to find new strategies/instruments in order to use the existing forest reserves in a sustainable and rational way. Such instruments/mechanisms as participatory management, includes: joint forest management, forest industry concession/lease, better forest management planning, formation of executive agents for managing forest reserves and pricing of timber and other forest products based on their market values.
There is a clear need to establish a culture for ownership and sustainable use of forest resources in Tanzania. This is partly succeeding. For example, in1998/1999 the government launched a national campaign to plant over 100,000,000 trees before 2000. This target was surpassed. If the same trend continues there is great hope of reducing the impact of the on going deforestation and degradation. The latest development is the proclamation of 1 January each year as the National Tree Planting Day (PMO, 2000).
Productive forests contain some of the main commercial timber species. They are managed for sustained supply of valuable hardwoods to meet the big demand of industrial requirement for timber production, plywood and veneer. However, these forests are a dwindling asset in Tanzania, as the replacement of removed tree is not sufficiently carried out.
In the long run more efforts need to be exerted in order to balance the supply and demand for plantation wood. This is due to the fact that the growth of the wood industry does not reflect the wood supply. Nonetheless it has been provided for in the revised Forest Policy that management of industrial plantations will now be delegated to executive agencies and the private sector. Therefore, forest plantations and trees outside the forest are likely going to make a big contribution to the economic, social cultural and environmental welfare of the country.
3.1.2 Protective Forest Reserves
Out of the gazetted forests, 1.6 million ha are managed as catchment forests with an objective of regulating water-flow, preventing surface run off and soil erosion, providing water for drinking, power supply, industries and irrigation schemes. In recent years, various aspects of biodiversity, such as unique ecosystems and genetic resources have started to have an increasing emphasis. The forests have also valuable tree species, which can provide high quality timber. These are also a valuable source of firewood, poles and other forestry products like medicinal plants and fruits.
Until early 2000 the declined forest cover area was pegged at 130-500,000 ha per year. However, following an assessment by FAO through its Forest Resource Programme the average rate for the past twenty years is 92,200 ha per year. The reasons for degradation and deforestation have been given in the preceding sections but it may be important at this juncture two mention two scenarios, which have impact on the future of our resource base.
The actual rate of forest changes is not known due to lack of monitoring system. The miombos, which are frequently cut, can regenerate and recover as secondary forest cover if left undisturbed. Some forest areas are lost forever
Since the mid seventies community forestry programmes have played a very significant role in counterbalancing natural forest losses. These are hardly recorded but their impact is very obvious. The current policy is encouraging this and with good support from the government the forest estate can be greatly improved and the adverse effects on natural forest greatly reduced.
One of the objectives of the national forest policy is to ensure ecosystem stability through conservation of forest biodiversity. In this view the Amani Nature Reserve was established to protect the unique, biologically important sub-montane rain forest ecosystem of the East Usambara Mountains and to maintain biodiversity, genetic resources, natural processes and cultural value in an undisturbed state.
The area covered by mangrove forests is about 115,000 ha. These are highly productive ecosystems, which are not only able to provide a range of valuable forest products but also contribute to the productivity of the coastal waters and prevent coastal erosion. Mangroves also play an important role in maintaining shore water quality and providing suitable habitats for many commercially important species of fish and prawns. Like the catchment forests, mangroves are now managed by FBD to address the uncontrolled harvesting, encroachment, salt making etc. Like in other forests community participation is being promoted in mangrove forests.
3.1.3 Forests on public land (non-reserved forest land)
Outside the forest reserves there are about 19 million ha of public forestland, which contribute to most of the wood harvested. The dominant forest type in these areas is miombo woodlands and savanna. The tree cover is typically dominated by Brachystegia spp..
A large part of non-gazetted forest land is not under any ownership or proper guidance, therefore, there is shifting cultivation and heavy pressure for conversion of forest land to other competing land uses, such as agriculture, livestock grazing, settlements and industrial development. Under the new policy, this is the target area for converting into village land forest reserves.
In addition, forests on public land are managed at the interface with agriculture for food and cash crops. Hence, there are parallel extension services that are not necessarily forestry related. So far, no incentive system exists for encouraging sustainable forest management on public lands.
3.1.4 Private and community forestry
The area under private and community forestry is estimated at 60-70 000 ha. These community plots are largely very small, less than 1 ha by size, but there are also large plantations owned by big companies. But from the on going campaigns to promote tree growing the cumulative areas under the private sector is more than what is reported. Natural forest plots on leased lands suffer from unclear ownership and tenure, encroachment, lack of management, wild fires and lack of awareness and incentives for SFM. Conservation agreements between an owner and FBD have been proposed to improve the situation.
Trees growing under agroforestry systems are affected by land shortage and lack of financial incentives. Other reasons that limit successful tree growing under agroforestry systems include lack of awareness and cultural limitations, lack of tree management know-how, limited financial benefits due to availability of products from open access lands and long rotation times of trees in producing tangible benefits.
Many mechanisms have been discussed and proposed for improving the situation in agroforestry. These include unified extension services, establishment of ownership for open access land to limit uncontrolled use (village reserves). Others are establishment of some kind of ownership also for reserved trees, better choices of suitable species for short and long term benefit production. Finally provision of incentives for establishment of private nurseries and establishment of gender sensitive agro-forestry systems.
3.2.1 Introduction
Forest industries in Tanzania can contribute a lot to the economy of the country given sound operational situation. This is due to the fact that a rich resource base is available in state owned forests and private lands. The key problem is lack of reliable statistics on where, how and quality of wood or tree are available. Due to dwindling of commonly used tree species the market are now resorting to other hitherto used ones. The other problem is that the wood industry is dominated by small sawmills, which can only handle mid sized logs 20-35 cm diameter. Due to incomplete information, estimation of the impact of wood industries in the economy is realistically impossible.
In the general it can be noted here that wood industries are operating below capacity, in some cases below 50%. The major causes of this scene are related to managerial, financial and technical aspects. However, in most cases, financial problems obscures other problems and under such circumstances financial support alone will not help in the improvement of wood industries operations; problems need critical analysis and solutions be applied consecutively.
3.2.2 Wood Industries in Tanzania
There is processing capacity of 900,000 m3 round wood in the country of which 33.3% is related to natural forest and 66.7% to plantations (Ngaga et al., 1998b). Among forest industries in the country sawn wood production (saw milling and hand sawing combined) has the biggest share of the capacity standing at more than 71% followed by pulp and paper production having a share 21% and the rest is wood based products, Joinery and furniture (MNRT 2000).
The major products produced in the country, as seen from the industries above, are sawn wood, pulp and paperboards, particleboards, plywood, fibreboards and furniture. The ply wood industries are currently down due to lack of raw materials and worn out machines.
3.2.3 State of technology
Most of the wood industries in the country are very old. This problem is worsened by the poor maintenance of the mills due to lack of appropriate spare parts and inadequately trained maintenance operators.
Among the results of the above situation is the inability to utilize capacity and abundant wastes in the mill. Some sawmills are operating below 35% recovery rate. The main product of sawmill is the sawn timber, which is used in carpentry, joinery and construction. However, where sawmills are integrated, the waste product of the sawmills, especially chips and slabs, could be used in the manufacturing of other products like chipboards and fibreboard briquettes. This situation is very rare.
Therefore, the mills could improve their economies if an attempt to improve recovery is done. Further to that improved technology and production techniques will result in efficient utilization of wood resources and this is the area of preference for future improvement of forestry sector.
3.2.4 Market
Most of the mills in the country have been producing for the local market. Attempts have been made to secure export market but only hardwood fetched good market abroad. In specific flooring strips, black wood and carvings have now increased demand for local and export market (MNRT 2000). Markets for softwood needs to be expanded; recent trends indicate that the export of softwood timber is increasing.
Due to trade liberalization wood products are now imported in the country and these products are of very high quality compared to those produced in the country. There is need to improve product qualities in order to compete in the market. This also necessitates improvement of the quality of raw materials.
3.2.5 The sustainability of the wood industries
There used to be two sources of raw materials in the country namely forest plantations and natural forests. Due to the concern in the environment protection many natural forests have been closed. Therefore, mills that depend mainly in wood from the natural forests may not have a good future unless effort in the sustainable management of the natural forests is increased. Since these mills are designed to process big logs there is no possibility to use small logs from the plantations. Mills that are depending on plantation log supply have a bigger chance to expand and flourish. This is true since the plantations can guarantee a sustainable supply of raw materials given good management practices.
Appropriate management of the forest has a big role to play in the survival of the wood industries. Mills often incur big losses because of poor quality of raw materials and this is often not accounted by some mills.
Most of the wood industries are well located in relation to the source of raw materials. This means the operational costs in terms of transport can be greatly reduced and the profit margin increased. However, as earlier noted, investment for log transport and logging is very low and as a result the mills are underfed.
In recent years many mobile sawmills have been established in and around the forest plantations forming clusters. However for survival improved technology and management techniques are necessary and in some areas the numbers of sawmills are too high.
One good advantage the local wood industry has, is having the existing ban on export of logs. Until early this year only teak and paurossa logs were allowed to be exported unprocessed. Plans are underway to ban export of any type of logs.
In general, it can be concluded here that given the existing raw material in both natural forests, plantations and farmlands and given improved management of the mills the role the wood industry plays to the national economy can significantly be increased. The increasing role of the private sector in wood industry is accelerating this process.
3.2.6 Wood Demand-Supply Situation
In recent years, the demands for forest products have been growing, as the population levels are increasingly high. On the other hand, the supply of raw materials for the forest industry is becoming very uncertain, as the actual resource base is not well known. While the development of forest industry and products is one of the primary obligations of the forest policy, the essentials are to guarantee the long-term availability of the raw materials for the industry among others.
For decades the natural forests have been the traditional source of raw materials for forest industries. In rural communities, logging in natural forests for timber has been driven by needs to build boats, make tools and handles, furniture and many construction works. But, of late, there is growing pressure to conserve these ecosystems for the sake of biodiversity and other utilities. These are two competing ends and the chances are that wood industries stand to loose the game
Supply potentials from natural forests for industrial round wood are constrained by various circumstances and the main ones are:
There is high demand for few species both for wood fuel, sawn timber and other uses. Some species are threatened.
The capacity to manage these vast forests with difficult terrain is hampered by inadequacy of staff and facilities and poor infrastructure.
Lack of employment opportunities outside agricultural and livestock production as common ventures in the rural areas intensifies dependency on natural forests for livelihood needs of the ever-growing human population and more serious encroachments for production of food and cash crops.
Despite the protected status, many of the natural woodlands are heavily exploited by hand sawyers and there is growing demand to use the once less favored species for various use situations. And, as earlier indicated, farmlands are increasingly becoming source of raw materials.
3.2.7 Export trade
According to recent studies, the international trade in forest product is to be low in the medium and the long-term horizon. The projections suggest a net export of softwood timber at an average of about 34,000 m³ per year, hardwood sawn at 1000 m³ and hardboards at 1000 tonnes per year. The forecast further suggests a net import in all the export trade of forest products, paper products ranging between 22,000 and 38,000 m³ tonnes per year. These low exports of products have been due to stiff market competition being high production and transport costs, low quality products and low price-cost margin associated with low capacity utilization. The exporters also lack sufficient operating capital to trade in exports. However, for conservation and watershed values there are limitations on harvesting hardwoods for export trade. Furthermore, there also limitations to trade in some wood products like hardwood logs and sawn timber, which are mostly demanded in the foreign markets.
At present the industrial wood utilization is estimated to be slightly lower because larger number of industries have phased out (including the largest consumer the Southern Paper Mill which stopped production in 1997). Some others have not yet stabilized after privatization processes in recent few years. In the average the saw milling capacity seem to have increased due a large number of saw millers using mobile sawmills and handsaws in almost all forest plantations. Otherwise the current status of these plantations reveal that there is high potential of wood which is unutilized thus being available for future development of forest industries. There are only few large-scale forest industries thus harvesting being dominated by small scale saw millers. The harvesting and marketing of the wood and other products from the plantation forests is fairly organized to counterbalance excessive exploitation of the resource.
3.2.8 Current state of forest plantations
While the main source of softwood raw material in Tanzania are the industrial plantation forests, these plantations have poorly been managed and there has been little efforts to replant; as a result this lead to competition for resources. This has led to the movement of saw milling activities away from exhausted plantations. As a general rule most forest plantations in Tanzania face many management problems:
Outdated forest management techniques
Lack of species diversification
Lack of management information
Low quality raw materials and hence the products
Inadequate operational funds and working facilities
In some areas there is encroachment and illegal harvesting
There are few staff, some with low working morale
There are growing threats from fires
High interest rates in financial institutions prohibit investors to get loans
Most cypress plantations have been heavily affected by aphids
3.2.9 Opportunities for future supply of wood and other wood products
The primary obligation of Tanzania’s forest policy is to have long term plans on the supply of wood raw materials for the industries and other uses. This advocates the need to strengthen the management of plantation forests by improving tending operations to ensure sustainable and good quality of raw material. To this end the Government has allowed the Forestry Division to operate a revolving fund whereby part of the revenue, excluding the royalty, is retained by the forest manager in a special account. Over and above this FBD is allowed to retain about 64% of the royalty collected. But, this has to be deposited in the treasury first before it is sent back to the Division. Other efforts being made include the need for regular forest resource assessments to monitor the growing stock
The management plan format has been updated to accommodate changes mainly to incorporate the market needs. There are policy provisions to use other management options including concessions, leases, and establishment of specialized agencies.
3.3.1 Ecological and socio-economic impacts
While the actual allowable cut (in terms of wood fuel) from the natural forests is not well known, the actual consumption (as it appears) is anticipated to be higher than what is actually available thus causing a very serious overexploitation of the natural forests. This trend of dependency on wood for fuel is subject to continue for many years to come.
The current method of charcoal production by using traditional earth kilns has been preferred by most Tanzanians as they need very little skill and low capital investment. Traditional conversion of wood to charcoal wastes as much as 70% of wood caloric value, thus accelerating pressure in destruction of woody vegetation. Furthermore charcoal production venture is growing high because is taken as part time job to supplement farmers’ income. The incentives from the already existing markets in big cities and towns encourage charcoal production as a full-time income generating work.
Charcoal production is forecasted to continue in future, partially due to stagnant in technological development and inability of many consumers to switch over to alternative energy sources.
3.3.2 Socio-economic impacts
In Tanzania, as appears in other developing countries of the sub-Saharan regions, the acute shortage of wood fuel and other forest products is due to deforestation. Reduction of fuel wood supplies has significantly increased costs of living and has influenced women and children spend more of their productive time in fuel wood gathering. Women and children walk too long distances in search for fuel wood. Some families have even changed their cooking habits by cooking less meals, cook light foods, to save fuel wood, thus affecting their health and the labor force to other productive ventures.
It has been obvious that as the forest cover diminishes, the prices of wood fuel rises and the scarcity means that more money is allocated for acquiring wood fuel against other essentials. In some parts of Tanzania farmers meet their energy demands by using non-wood biomass such as farm residues and even cow dung, which would otherwise be incorporated in soils as organic manure for the future crops.
3.3.3 Future wood fuel supply and prospects
One of the primary obligations of the Tanzania’s forest policy is to by all possible ways and means, ascertain the future supply of wood fuel. The strategies have been to plough means to ensure that the supply of wood fuel is sufficient and sustainable to meet the demands from the rapid growing population. To meet this objective the main strategies are:
To provide the policy guidelines, formulate strategies and develop means which are geared at reducing dependency on wood fuel for household energy needs like the use electricity, biogas etc.
Adoption to use the technology, which improves conversion and utilization of wood fuel. Yet efficient methods of charcoal making is emphasized
Private institutions and individuals are encouraged to establish woodlots in their farms, private investment in establishing wood fuel plantation is also promoted
To properly manage and plan the use of the existing forests against destruction for the wood fuel requirement
In natural forests there is high potential of biodiversity, which offer a wide range of products. Among the many products include the woody species which are preferred for artisanal wood products (carving and other handcrafts) which are increasingly demanded by both local and export trades.
In Tanzania, the operators of the artisanal industry suffer from inadequate supply on raw material sources thus being not available at sufficient quantities to meet the demands. The resource base for these products is narrow as they depend on only few species like Brachylaen hutchinsii (muhuhu) and Dalbergia melanoxylon (mpingo). The product ranges are homogenous which have negatively affected the business. Wood carving skills are also likely to decline due to lack of opportunities to develop the technology.
The future situation of artisanal wood products in Tanzania will largely depend on pace of development of the tourism sector. The Tanzania government has advocated development of the industry for higher contribution of artisanal wood products to the national economy and sustainable development of Tanzania. The strategies are therefore:
To intensify resource assessment and identify suitable tree species for artisanal products and disseminate information to potential users through extension
To conserve the potential and threatened species for artisanal industry
To intensify research, training and transfer of conversion technology
To develop marketing strategies for artisanal wood products and
The degree to which wood resources are used in Tanzania is far below the existing potentials. There are untapped resources in the natural forests and potentials of forest plantations are not efficiently used due to poor performance of the processing industry on one hand and due to poor infrastructural developments in some places on the other side. The future development of wood-based industry and products is assured of sufficient supply of wood raw materials by increased utilization of plantations as the most prominent and secured source of raw materials for forest industry.
3.5.1 Conservation of Biodiversity
According to WWF (1993) in Africa, biodiversity is a matter on which society depends. It provides ecosystem resilience to allow both people and natural communities to cope with periodic environmental stress.
There are six biodiversity hot sports in Tanzania (Rogers 1994). These are: the Eastern Arc old Block- Mountain Forests, the Coastal forests, the Great Lake for Cichlid fishes, the Marine coral reef ecosystems; the ecosystem of alkaline Rift valley Lakes; and the grassland savanna for large mammals.
Natural habitats such as forests have long been providing local people with the means for survival, supplying food (meat, nuts, vegetables), fodder, firewood, construction materials, medicinal plants and wild genes for domestic plants and animals. Also forests provide other important ecological services such as maintaining hydrological cycle, springs, streams, regulating climate, contributing to the processes of soil formation and maturation, storing and cycling essential nutrients, absorbing and breaking down pollutants and providing sites for tourism recreation and research. It is clear that by managing the forests for sustained multiple products, one is also managing biodiversity.
In order to minimize damage to the ecosystem due to human activities, the forest policy states to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before carrying out large investment projects, which convert forestlands to other land uses. These include activities such as for forest industries, mining, road construction, agriculture, dams, refugee settlement, shrimp farming and tourism. The scope and guidelines of the EIA will be prepared in collaboration with other sectors and stakeholders.
Specifically in order to ensure ecosystem conservation and management in the areas of biodiversity, watershed management and soil conservation, and wildlife, the forest policy spells out a number of strategies/measures including the following:
New forest reserves for diversity conservation will be established in areas of high biodiversity value. Forest reserves with protection objectives of national strategic importance may be declared as nature reserves
Involvement of local communities and other stakeholders in conservation and management will be encouraged through joint management agreements.
Biodiversity research and information dissemination will be strengthened in order to improve biodiversity conservation and management.
Biodiversity conservation will be incorporated in the management regimes of natural production forests and plantations
The replacement of natural forest by exotic plantation will be minimized
New catchment forest reserves for watershed management and soil conservation will be established in critical areas
EIA will be required for investments, which convert forestland to other land use or may cause potential damage the forest environment
3.5.2. Arresting Land Degradation and Control of Desertification
One of the major objectives of forests is to conserve the soil to avoid land degradation. Land degradation is one of the majors to agriculture and ecosystem conservation because it causes loss of habitats for both flora and fauna. Siltation of rivers and dams is another result of land degradation due to soil erosion, especially in catchment areas.
Soil conservation practices in the country have been emphasizing on the need to protect the natural vegetation, especially in watershed and farmland areas so as to minimize land degradation. However, other externally funded organizations have also developed projects to check land degradation restoring of vegetation in regions severely affected, but also in other areas, to increase agricultural productivity and water conservation on sustainable basis.
Various approaches, methods and techniques are used to implement the project activities:
Awareness campaigns to communities affected by land degradation and deforestation
Involvement of local communities in formulation of programmes to curb land degradation
Development of appropriate integrated soil conservation technologies (agroforestry, contours, terrace, fodder banks, water harvesting etc)
Sustainable land use planning
3.6.1 The Structure and Function of Forest Administrations
Tanzania has adopted decentralization policies and programmes since three decades ago although there have been some interruptions in between. The existing decentralization programme started in 1984. This is a devolution of functions and authority from the central government to the local government. The local authority will be autonomous with the central authorities only exercising indirect, supervisory control over them. Privatization is still going on whereby the production functions of the government are transferred to private organization, NGOs, and co-operatives. Some of the productive functions of natural resources sector will be transferred to create executive agencies. After delegating, the government will exercise indirect control (eyes on arms off), but keeps the ultimate responsibility.
Decentralization has, however, removed the direct links between these organizations and thus the forest policy and legislation difficult to implement due to difficult and conflict in defining and assigning roles and responsibilities to manage the forest resource at three levels namely the local government, regional administration and the ministry responsible for forestry. Also funding at all levels has dwindling from year to year and this has eroded off government control of the use of forest resources. Uncontrolled use of the forest resources has increased considerably.
Currently following the Civil Service Reforms, the number of staff involved in the implementation of the forest policy has been reduced of which to some extent has led to inefficiency in implementation of forest policy. Furthermore, due to inadequate financial resources the available staff is poorly motivated.
Coordination with other relevant sectors is poor. Current information systems and databases do not provide sufficient information for decision-making.
Therefore, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in implementation of forest policy has proposed a number of measures:
The role of the sector administration will focus on policy development, regulation, monitoring, facilitation and promotion of decentralization of forest management responsibilities.
Strengthening the capacity of local government to administer and manage forest resources and establish a co-ordination mechanism between the local and central governments
Cross-sector co-ordination between the forest administration and other government institutions at all levels.
3.6.2 New Roles for Private Sector and Local Community in Forest Management
Roles for Private Sector:
The parastatal organizations in the field of forestry have been inefficient in terms of productivity and marketing for their products and are in the process of privatization, commercialization or liquidation (MNRT, 1998). The private sector will take prominent roles in the activities, which the parastatals are currently undertaking. This is due the changes of the role of the government in forest development and will be active involved of the private sector.
However, private forestry enterprises are suffering from limited accessibility to credit for investment. There is inadequate information on raw material supply availed to in vestors in the forest industry. The marketing arrangements for sale of forest products are not organized and harmonized (MNRT, 1998). The harvesting and processing activities are inefficient due to poor technology, obsolete equipment and lack of technical know-how.
New roles for Local Community:
In many parts of Tanzania, local communities have the potential to ensure sustainable management of forest resources and benefiting in terms of fuel wood, wood for timber, NWFPs and services and forestland for cultivation. Therefore the question who controls tree resources is very important to the participation of local communities in forestry programmes. This relates to land and tree tenure particularly on communal and public lands. It focuses on who owns and inherits the trees, the right to plant trees, and the right to their use and the right to disposal.
Critical factors for improvement of the situation within the forestry and beekeeping sector include:
Institutional change whereby the roles and mandates of different players/actors such as Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD); District Councils (Local Government Authorities), Local Communities and NGOs would be clearly defined and properly followed. Currently the forest and beekeeping sector administration is fragmented because three parallel institutions offer the forest and beekeeping services. There is also need to institute a framework for the stakeholders participation and ensure effective coordination
Forest Resources in terms of Central and Local Government Forest Reserves, Village Forest Reserves, General Forests and Woodlands clearly demarcated and managed by appropriate authorities following approved management plans
Enabling an environment (Policy and Legal Instruments) for the participation of the private sector including other stakeholders such as the local communities, civil society organizations and other relevant institutions being in place
Efficient and effective mechanisms for the collection of forestry royalties and fees and how these and other benefits are shared amongst the stakeholders
A system/mechanism for resolving conflicts among the stakeholders and other forestry/beekeeping resources users instituted and working
Human resources developments plan and also undertake forests and woodland research to generate data and information needed for effective planning resources management and control
Institutional Changes:
The forest and beekeeping sector’s policies and legal set-up need to address and be responsive to issues/problems that the sector faces. It is high time that the country’s forests and woodlands are conserved managed and utilized on a sustainable basis with the ultimate goal of contribution to the national economy and enhancing the forestry sector’s social security.
The 1998 Forest Policy pronounces far reaching policy changes. The policy accords priority to conservation and management of biodiversity resources including upgrading of certain forest reserves with high biodiversity values into Nature Reserves.
Furthermore, priority is accorded to aspects of local community involvement and participation in forests and woodlands conservation and management including commercialization of the country’s 80,000 ha of industrial plantations.
Also aspects of Joint Forest Management (JFM), participatory planning and mechanisms for increased revenue collection and benefits sharing among the key stakeholders are emphasized. It is through such institutional set-up that the Government creates enabling environment for the growth and advancement of the forestry and beekeeping sector in Tanzania.
It is also important to update the 1959 Forests Ordinance so that it becomes an appropriate legal instrument not only for support and enhancement of the 1998 Forest Policy but also harmonized with other sectors’ policies and legal frameworks.
Institutional changes within the forestry sector are considered to be crucial in order to enable the Government undertake its tasks more efficiently through a well-focused service delivery mechanism and being able to manage the country’s forests and woodland resources on a sustainable basis. The forestry sector institutional changes that are proposed are in line with the on-going government restructuring initiatives including the Local Government and Civil Service Reforms, whose aim is to improve the public services sector and the country’s general performance. It is anticipated that through institutional change FBD’s roles and mandates will be clearly defined and also making clear distinctions between the core and non-core functions. That means day-to-day tasks related to forest conservation and management will be designated to a semi
Productive forests especially industrial plantations should be fully commercialized by inviting and the participation of the Private Sector to invest and manage such forests on a sustainable basis. Thus, through institutional restructuring in terms of policy and legal frameworks, the roles and mandates of FBD, the District Council Authorities, the Executive Agency and that of the Private Sector would be clearly defined and implementation undertaken accordingly.
Enhancing Investment in Forestry:
The 1998 Forest Policy envisages attraction of potential investors in order to produce sufficient forest products. The intention is to ensure sustainable supply of wood and non-wood products by maintaining sufficient forest area under effective forest management techniques. It is anticipated that Tanzania’s population is expected to double within the next 20-30 years thus demand for various forest products is also expected to take a similar trend.
Technological changes:
Since the forestry is a dynamic sector some technological changes are definitely going to happen. Experiences indicate that forestry management and development techniques evolve and change over time. For instance, agroforestry techniques are nowadays being practiced as compared in the past. Nursery and tree growing techniques have also been improved through research and industrial changes that have taken place over the years. Thus, certain forest products are produced to meet specific demands according to existing industries and user preferences.
The 1998 Forest Policy advocates use of appropriate technology especially in forest harvesting and wood processing industries. In order to promote such technologies information on the availability of raw materials is crucial. Management of industrial plantations will be improved by commercializing the plantations and promote private sector investments through appropriate concessions and forestland leases options.
Feasibility of the changes:
The feasibility of these and other changes depends on many factors among them being conformity to national restructuring and local government reforms. For instance, institutional changes within the forestry sector may not produce intended impact if they will ignore the local government reforms and restructuring. Most of the forests and woodlands are within a certain district’s administrative boundary hence there is need to clearly defining roles and mandates as well as forests and woodlands ownership regimes.
Roles and Responsibilities of various Agencies:
Government Institutions
Government institutions especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), the Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD), the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government (MRALG) and the Districts Councils have great responsibilities to ensure that forests and woodlands are conserved and managed on a sustainable basis.
Government institutions should strive to achieve greater cooperation and harmonized and improving services and forest products delivery to customers including local communities benefit. This will entail improving the design and implementation of national and local plans, projects and programmes in the forestry and beekeeping sector. There is also need to improve coordination among the stakeholders and institutions and integrating sectoral efforts and strategies for the betterment of the forestry sector and the nation as a whole.
The Private Sector
The Private Sector has an important role to play in conservation and sustainable utilization of forests and woodlands in Tanzania. Nowadays the 1998 Forest Policy accords priority to the involvement and participation of the private sector in forestry development activities. It is FBD’s expectations that performance of the Private Sector including local communities will be largely influenced by the services that are offered. For instance, in the case of commercialization of industrial plantations, attractive bidding arrangements and taxation systems would motivate the private sector participation. Furthermore, harmonized extension services and some financial incentives will be the driving force for the private and local communities to undertake/invest in forestry activities seriously. It is further anticipated that legal framework for the promotion of private and community-based ownership of forests and trees (rights and privileges well defined) will be in place and followed. For instance, farmers will be entitled to own indigenous tree species including reserved tree species growing within their crop fields.
Involvement and participation of the private Sector in forestry development will in the long run, lead to the establishment of private woodlots and industrial plantations for the production of wood fuels and timber/poles products. Not only unefficient management of the plantations, but also forest roads are in bad shape consequently, harvesting and transportation of industrial wood viewed as cumbersome operations and very difficult to implement. Industrial plantations management plans need periodical updating and forest operations carried out according to the plans but this has not been the case.
NGOs and Civil Society
NGOs and the Civil Society including Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are recognized as important local institutions in the field of forestry and environmental sector. Since such institutions/organizations are grassroots based and operate for the interests and betterment of people, working and collaborating with NGOs and CBOs is regarded as a viable strategy for reaching farmers and communities in the rural areas. Nevertheless not all NGOs have required capacity to carry duties and tasks accordingly. Thus, some deliberate efforts are needed to make sure that NGOs and the civil society in Tanzania have the capacity in terms of skilled human resources and logistics.
There is also a need to improve and strengthen coordination between the forestry and beekeeping sector and NGOs/CBOs and civil society working/interested in the forestry and environment sectors. How to improve the financial status and promote self-financing mechanisms/initiatives amongst the NGOs in Tanzania, is a task needing seriousness and commitment from both the Government and the NGOs themselves.
Local communities are encouraged to establish and manage own woodlots as individuals or in groups (associations). Furthermore, the villages and individual households are encouraged to establish forest reserved in areas of high conservation values as part of national efforts for sustainable conservation and unsustainable use of natural resources is sometimes linked with poverty and/or lack of viable alternatives for livelihood security.
Forestry activities by local communities, farmers, NGOs and CBOs are emphasized and would be promoted through harmonized extension services, technical assistance and establishment of appropriate financial and materials incentives. Where necessary gender roles and specific activities such as women operated woodlots are encouraged without running into conflicts with indigenous traditions and systems.
Donor and Financial Institutions
Financing forestry and beekeeping development and conservation activities has been largely been a donor scenario. The Government capacity to finance the forestry sector and its operations has remained relatively low because the internal system and strategies to generate funds have been poorly implemented.
Financing forestry and beekeeping activities in both rural and urban areas will depend on the FBD’s ability to general funds through revenue collection mechanisms. Collection of forest royalties and fees is given top priority and results are encouraging innovative sectoral financing mechanisms are developed including setting up and managing an Endowment Conservation Trust Fund.
