As part of the World Environment Day commemorations, the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) has called on Tanzanians to transition away from traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal and embrace clean cooking energy to protect the nation’s forests and the environment at large.
The appeal was made on June 3, 2025, by TFS Conservation Commissioner, Professor Dos Santos Silayo, during his visit to exhibition booths at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre (JKCC) in Dodoma, where events are being held to mark the global environmental awareness day.
This year’s theme is: “Our Environment and Tanzania’s Future – Act Now: Curb Plastic Use.”
Speaking to the media, Prof. Silayo emphasized that forests are a vital pillar of the ecosystem and that effective environmental conservation is impossible without the protection of forest resources.
“When we talk about environmental degradation, what often comes to mind are the trees that have been felled and the forests lost. That alone shows how central forests are to the health of our environment,” said Prof. Silayo.
He warned that forest destruction has far-reaching consequences across key sectors including water, agriculture, livestock, and public health.
Prof. Silayo also praised TFS officers and rangers for their outreach work during the exhibition, noting that their education efforts align with national initiatives on forest protection, quality tree seed preservation, seedling propagation, and promotion of eco-friendly technologies.
“I’ve observed a commendable level of public education being delivered from seed selection to seedling cultivation, and the ecological benefits involved. TFS is well-organized and leading by example. Congratulations,” he remarked.
He further affirmed that TFS will continue collaborating with other institutions to implement the National Clean Cooking Energy Communication Strategy and support the National Public Awareness Campaign on Clean Cooking Energy, launched on June 2, 2025, by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko.
The campaign aims to raise public understanding of the benefits of clean energy and support the Government’s goal to ensure that 80% of Tanzanian households use clean cooking energy by 2034.
“We must help people understand the risks of relying on charcoal and firewood. This education must be delivered with urgency and determination,” he emphasized.
Prof. Silayo concluded by urging citizens and institutions alike to take an active role in the exhibitions and nationwide campaigns aimed at transforming energy use behaviors.
“All institutions must join us in raising awareness, as repeatedly stressed by Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan. We must not leave the public behind,” he said.
He noted that Tanzania’s continued heavy dependence on biomass fuels particularly firewood and charcoal remains a major threat to forest survival, and that decisive action is needed to reverse the trend.
World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5 to promote global awareness and action for environmental protection.
This year’s events in Dodoma bring together government agencies, the private sector, international organizations, and the public in a united effort to reduce plastic use, promote clean energy, and safeguard natural ecosystems.
