Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting forests and biodiversity as a key response to climate change, following a high-level review of the Forest Biodiversity Resilience Project held in Arusha on December 17, 2025.
The Fourth Meeting of the Project Steering Committee brought together senior government officials and development partners to assess progress made and agree on the next steps to strengthen the country’s natural forest reserves.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Hassan Abbasi, and the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Amon Manyama, and took place at the Ngorongoro Tourism Centre.
Implemented through a partnership involving the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism via the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), UNDP, the Vice President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office–TAMISEMI, the project aims to build resilience of forest ecosystems and protect biodiversity from the growing impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Abbasi said forests remain a critical national asset in addressing climate change and supporting sustainable development, noting that effective conservation requires strong coordination among institutions and meaningful engagement of communities living around forest reserves.
Mr Manyama reaffirmed UNDP’s continued support to the Government’s environmental agenda, stressing that accountability, sound management and community participation are central to achieving long-term and sustainable outcomes.
The meeting reviewed achievements registered so far, identified implementation challenges and provided strategic guidance for the next phase of the project to ensure natural forests are protected and remain resilient for the benefit of current and future generations.
Earlier, Assistant Commissioner for Conservation and Acting Director of Resource Management at TFS, Dr Zainabu Bungwa, assured stakeholders of the agency’s readiness to implement Steering Committee decisions promptly and effectively.
She also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among partners to strengthen opportunities for sustained support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).