The Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency, through its Sao Hill Forest Plantation in Iringa, has introduced new digital technologies to improve early detection and control of forest fires a transformative step in protecting Tanzania’s forests and tackling the effects of climate change.
The initiative forms part of TFS’s broader strategy to modernize forest management through science, technology, and community collaboration.
It also aligns with the government’s environmental protection agenda, which emphasizes sustainable management of natural resources.
According to TFS officials, the digital tools enable real-time detection of fire outbreaks and rapid coordination with forest protection teams, allowing swift response before fires spread and cause significant destruction.
TFS Senior Conservator Mussa Kitivo said the new system has already begun showing tangible results, including a notable decline in fire incidents and improved identification of those responsible for igniting fires.
“We now receive alerts much earlier, and fires are contained before they spread. This has dramatically reduced forest losses and saved thousands of trees that would have been destroyed,” Kitivo said.
He noted that the system also empowers forest officers and nearby communities to report fire incidents instantly through digital platforms strengthening collaboration between citizens and conservation authorities.
To ensure effective implementation, TFS has been training its staff on how to operate the advanced equipment and analyze the data collected to improve decision-making in forest management.
Technology systems expert Bashily Njollah Msangi said the use of digital innovation has become a game-changer in forest protection.
“These technologies do more than detect fires they help identify who caused them. That accountability is crucial. We want the public to see technology as an ally in conservation, not a barrier,” he said.
TFS–Sao Hill is now calling on residents living near forest reserves to cooperate by reporting early signs of fire and avoiding careless use of fire in farming, charcoal burning, or hunting activities.
With this initiative, TFS–Sao Hill is positioning itself as a model of technological adaptation in Tanzania’s environmental sector demonstrating how innovation can strengthen national efforts to combat climate change and preserve natural resources for future generations.
“Technology is our new weapon in safeguarding Tanzania’s forests,” Kitivo emphasized, urging citizens to take an active role in protecting the country’s green heritage.