Kigoma, Tanzania – The Parliamentary Committee on Public Investment (PIC) has lauded the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) for its successful tree planting initiative in areas of natural forests impacted by human activities.
The committee has called for the project to be expanded into a national program to ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials for the forestry industry.
The commendations were made on March 18, 2025, during the committee’s visit to the Makere Tree Plantation in Kasulu District, Kigoma Region, where TFS is working in partnership with local communities to implement the project.
Hon. Augustine Olle Vuma, the Chairman of the PIC and Member of Parliament for Kasulu, expressed his satisfaction with the project, noting that it has played a significant role in resolving conflicts between TFS and the local population.
“In the past, I was involved in addressing conflicts between TFS and local communities. However, by engaging the community in tree conservation and allowing them to grow short-term crops, these issues have been resolved. This is a major step forward, and we wholeheartedly congratulate TFS for their efforts,” he said.
Dr. Edward Kohi, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, who also serves as the Director of Training and Research, conveyed that the ministry has received the committee’s praise and the directions provided.
On his part, TFS Commissioner for Conservation, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, expressed gratitude to the committee for recognizing the institution’s efforts in forest conservation.
“We sincerely appreciate these commendations. We remain committed to prioritizing tree planting in degraded areas to ensure a continuous and sustainable supply of raw materials for the forestry industry. We also request that the committee raise awareness of the challenges we face during other meetings,” stated Prof. Silayo.
The Makere plantation spans a total of 65,178 hectares, with 42,000 hectares suitable for tree planting. To date, 1,406 hectares have been planted with trees, and efforts to expand the planting area are ongoing.