Tanzania has once again demonstrated its growing leadership on the international stage, as the Conservator General of the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, chaired a high-level session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC) underway in Accra, Ghana.
The three-day gathering has brought together senior government officials and policy experts from across Africa under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The goal: to forge a common path towards sustainable forest and wildlife management amid mounting global environmental pressures.
The leadership meeting also serves as a precursor to the 25th Session of the AFWC and the forthcoming Africa Forestry and Wildlife Weektwo landmark events expected to shape the continent’s conservation agenda for years to come.
Prof. Silayo, who also serves as Chair of the Commission and Vice Chair of the FAO’s global Committee on Forestry (COFO), opened the session with a strong call for coordinated African action in safeguarding natural resources.
“This Commission provides a critical platform for African countries to align policies, share progress, and confront challenges facing forestry and wildlife sectors. More importantly, it ensures our collective voice is heard on the global stage,” Prof. Silayo said.
He emphasized the Commission’s strategic role in advising both FAO and African member states on policies and sustainable resource management strategies tailored to regional needs. According to him, the AFWC also plays a vital role in monitoring Africa’s compliance with international climate and biodiversity treaties, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and REDD+.
“This meeting is not just a routine gathering,” Prof. Silayo noted. “It is an opportunity to evaluate how far we’ve come, identify areas for improvement, and collectively chart a path that prioritizes sustainability and intergenerational equity.”
With environmental degradation, population pressures, and climate change posing growing threats to Africa’s ecosystems, Prof. Silayo called for a united African front and firm regional cooperation to protect the continent’s natural heritage.
The meeting was also attended by key continental and global forestry leaders, including FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Abbey Haile Gabriel; COFO Chair, Pierre Taty; Executive Secretary of the African Forest Forum (AFF), Prof. Labode Popoola; and Edward Kilawe, Secretary of the AFWC.
Established under the FAO, the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission is the continent’s key platform for guiding policy and promoting best practices in forest and wildlife conservation. It is currently chaired by Tanzania—a recognition of the country’s rising influence in international environmental governance.
The Commission’s secretariat is based at the FAO Regional Office for Africa in Accra, while Tanzania’s stewardship under Prof. Silayo signals a deepening commitment to regional and global conservation efforts.
