The Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) is using the fifth National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Week 2026 to showcase opportunities linked to forest conservation, beekeeping and ecotourism, with apitherapy emerging as one of the attractions at its exhibition stand in Ngurudoto, Arusha.
TFS conservation officer Subira Matimbwa said apitherapy is among the services that involve the use of bees and bee-derived products, with visitors to the stand receiving information on the practice and the various uses of bee products.
She said the service had attracted participants interested in understanding the relationship between bees, their products and their potential applications in human life.
The TFS stand is also providing information on forest conservation, beekeeping and ecotourism while displaying and selling a range of bee products, including different types of honey, honey nuts and other products derived from beekeeping.
TFS tourism officer Salome Kivuye said the agency's participation in the conference was also intended to introduce participants to tourism sites they could visit while in Arusha.
She highlighted Lake Duluti and Napuru Waterfalls, located within the Meru Plantation Forest, as some of the attractions available to visitors.
Ms Kivuye said the sites offered participants an opportunity to combine their conference activities with tourism, while encouraging them to use TFS digital services, including e-Misitu, to access information and facilitate tourism services in areas managed by the agency.
The five-day conference is being held in Arusha from September 22 to 26, 2026, bringing together more than 1,500 participants from the government, institutions and other stakeholders to discuss the use of research evidence and data to measure results and improve implementation of development programmes.
The conference is being held under the theme: “From Evidence to Action: Strengthening Evaluation for Sustainable Development.”
As part of activities linked to World Tourism Day celebrations, Ms Kivuye also invited participants to visit the Kondoa Rock Art Site, where a range of tourism and entertainment activities will be held.
The programme includes an Outdoor Movie Night, Night Games, guided tours, a bonfire, painting, paintball, the Bata Pori Fun Run, live music, the Bata Pori Bike Ride Challenge, a karaoke night and guided visits to the World Heritage Site.
The TFS participation highlights the agency's efforts to link conservation with economic and social opportunities, while encouraging visitors to explore forest-based tourism and the potential of beekeeping and bee products.