Tanzania is stepping up its fight against climate change by joining six African countries in shaping new and more accurate ways of tracking carbon absorbed by trees growing outside traditional forests an area often overlooked but vital for environmental sustainability.
The two-day workshop, held from December 2–3, 2025 at Sigelege Hotel in Salima, Malawi, brought together experts under the coordination of Michigan State University (MSU), alongside research institutions from Malawi, Senegal, and the United States.
Representing Tanzania were Rogers Nyinondi and Jameseth Lazaro from the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS).
Their participation aligns with Tanzania’s commitment under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), where the country aims to restore 5.2 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
For citizens, this effort means better protection of the environment, improved soil health, more reliable rainfall, and stronger support for community-based tree planting and agroforestry systems — all of which contribute directly to livelihoods.
According to Prof. David L. Skole of Michigan State University, the workshop introduced powerful new tools such as high-resolution satellite imaging, deep machine learning, and advanced modeling.
These technologies make it possible to count and measure individual trees over large areas, enabling countries to accurately determine how much carbon their landscapes are absorbing.
“This training is a significant step toward building strong systems for verifying restoration progress and improving land management across Africa,” Prof. Skole said.
Speaking for Tanzania, Rogers Nyinondi said the training has broadened the country’s technical capacity to capture reliable carbon data from trees found on farms, roadsides, grazing lands, and other open areas.
“These new techniques will help us strengthen environmental planning and make sure restoration projects benefit communities across the country,” Nyinondi said.
The workshop brought together scientists and practitioners from Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, India, and Malawi, along with AFR100 partners reviewing ongoing project achievements supported by MSU.
For ordinary citizens, these regional collaborations mean better-managed landscapes, stronger climate resilience, and a future where community-led restoration contributes meaningfully to national development and environmental security.
