The District Commissioner of Kibaha, Nickson Simon, has urged village authorities to take the lead in protecting forest resources and ensuring that timber harvesting is carried out sustainably according to the law.
Simon made the call during a mid-year review meeting for forest management, covering July–December 2025, held at the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Eastern Zone offices in Mikoko, Kibaha.
He stressed that villages should immediately report any illegal logging and maintain records of offenders to enable authorities to take appropriate legal action.
“Villages are the first line of defense for our forests. Timely reporting and monitoring are critical to sustainable management,” Simon said.
As part of strengthening forest management, Simon directed that 20 percent of village-collected forest revenue be allocated to tree planting initiatives supported by TFS.
He also instructed that five percent of the funds be set aside for village-level patrols to monitor logging activities and ensure compliance with regulations.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Forest Conservation, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, TFS Eastern Zone Officer, Fatael Urio, said the meeting aimed to review the performance of forest harvesting in Kibaha District during the first half of the 2025/2026 financial year.
Urio explained that the review assessed whether timber harvesting followed the approved sustainable forest management plan and checked compliance with issued harvesting permits.
Adjustments were recommended where necessary, particularly for harvesters who had completed their allocations ahead of schedule, to avoid compromising forest sustainability.
The meeting also reinforced the need for villages to actively participate in forest protection, monitor harvesting activities, and ensure that management plans are effectively implemented to safeguard resources for future generations.