The Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency mandate is to sustainably manage national forest and bee resources through conservation, development and utilisation.
Vision
‘To be a leading center of excellence in sustainable management of forest and bee resources.’
Mission
‘To sustainably manage the national forest and bee resources in order to contribute to the social, economic, ecological and cultural needs of present and future generations.’
Core values
- Professionalism
- Integrity
- Confidentiality
- Creativity and innovation
- Team work
- Customer focus
- Transparency and accountability
- Efficiency and effectiveness
Core assets
Main assets under the Agency’s mandate include 506 natural forest reserves covering an area of 13.6 million ha, six declared bee reserves with a total area of 3,973.93 ha and three proposed bee reserves covering an area of 21,456 ha. Currently, there are 16 forest plantations with a planted area of 91,605 ha; 12,000 ha of a new Mbizi forest plantation; and 10,000 ha of Wino forest plantation under establishment. TFS has jurisdiction for the management of forests on general land with a total area of 2.7 million ha.
TFS endeavours to improve the management and production capacity of both natural and plantation forests and apiaries. These improvements include resources assessment, increasing the area of forest plantations, mapping and consolidation of forest reserves and encouraging private sector and community tree planting. TFS will also strengthen its efforts to assure ecosystem stability and conservation of forest biodiversity as well as water catchment and soil through improved forest management and enhanced protection efforts.
TFS manages a number of teak plantations, which produce some of the best teak stocks in Africa
Protected areas in Tanzania are extremely varied, ranging from sea habitats over grasslands to the top of the Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. About a third of the country’s total area is protected to a certain degree as National Park, Game Reserve, Marine Park, Forest Reserve and the like.
The government prepared a National Forest and Beekeeping Programme (NFBKP) that guides the implementation of the forest policy. The main objective of the NFBKP is the ‘protection of forest resources and their sustainable use to satisfy local, national and international needs’. Some of the focal points identified to achieve this objective include:
- the protection and management of forest resources, institutions and human resources
- forest laws
- forestry and sustainable livelihoods
Mandate
The Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) is an Executive Agency established under the Executive Agencies Act (Cap. 245 Revised Edition 2009) with the mandate to manage national forest and bee resources in a sustainable manner by ensuring sustainable supply of various forest and bee products and services, a stable ecosystem and maintaining biological diversity.
The forestry and beekeeping sector is guided by the National Forest and Beekeeping Policies adopted in March 1998 and the National Forest and Beekeeping Programme (NFBKP) guides the implementation of the Forest and Beekeeping Policies and the Forest Act (No. 14 of 2002) and Beekeeping Act (No. 15 of 2002) that provide the legal framework for the management of forests and bee resources.
National Forest and Beekeeping Programme
The National Beekeeping Programme is an instrument designed to put into practice the NBP with emphasis on stakeholders participation in the planning, management, ownership and sustainable utilisation of bee resources for poverty eradication, improved biodiversity development and environmental conservation. The programme has three sub-programmes including Beekeeping Development, Legal and Regulatory Framework and Institutional and Human Resources Development.
Objectives:
- Ensure sustainable existence of honeybees by maintaining and effectively managing adequate area of bee reserves
- Improve quality and quantity of honey, beeswax and other bee products and ensure sustainable supply of the same
- Enhance beekeeping for national development and poverty alleviation through the sustainable supply of bee products (honey, beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, brood, pollen) and services
- Improve biodiversity, increase employment and foreign exchange earnings through sustainable bee products
- Ensure ecosystem stability by practising Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for investments inside or around Bee Reserves and Apiaries
- Enhance national capacity to manage and develop the beekeeping sector in collaboration with other stakeholders
Tanzania is endowed with a favourable environment for the production of honey, beeswax and other bee products. The country has about 33.5 million hectares of forests and woodlands that are scattered throughout the country and are ideal for developing the beekeeping industry. The mangrove forests of mainland Tanzania that covers about 115,500 ha are particularly valuable as bee fodder. High potential for beekeeping is also found in agricultural land where substantial bee products can be harvested from agricultural crops e.g. sunflowers, green beans, coffee, coconut and sisal.
Beekeeping is practised in most rural areas in Tanzania producing organic honey, with the potential production capacity of 138,000 tonnes of honey and 625 tonnes of beeswax per annum. Current production is approximately 9,380 tonnes of honey and an average of 625.3 tonnes of beeswax available for domestic and international markets. The main buyers of Tanzania honey are the European Union member countries especially the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Other countries are United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kenya. The main importers of Tanzanian beeswax are Japan, USA and European Union member countries.
Amani Nature Reserve in Muheza, a centre for biological diversity, provides trekking options in what is called the ‘Paradise of Africa’ including hiking in the Zigi Mountains. Please visit www.amaninature.org
TFS nature reserves have many endemic species and several tourist attractions including waterfalls, historical sites, butterfly farming and the Amani Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Africa, established in 1902.
Three-horned chameleon
Amani Nature Reserve is a centre for biological diversity, likened to the African equivalent of the Galápagos Islands in terms of their endemism and biodiversity. Approximately 3,450 species of vascular plants have been recorded in the Usambara Mountains, of which over one-quarter are likely to be endemic or near-endemic. In addition to the variety of plants, the mountains host a number of endemic or rare fauna species, including the Usambara eagle owl and a viviparous frog species.
Mr Juma S. Mgoo, CEO
Mr Juma S. Mgoo
Chief Executive Officer
Tanzania Forest Services Agency
P.O. Box 40832
Dar es Salaam
TANZANIA
Email: mpingo@tfs.go.tz
www.tfs.go.tz
