The Vice President’s Office has allocated 2.6bn – towards a major programme aimed at enhancing the productivity and sustainable management of Tanzania’s miombo woodlands. The initiative, which will be implemented between 2025/26 and 2026/27, is designed to support forest-dependent communities while promoting the responsible utilization of the country’s valuable wood and forest resources.
Speaking at a meeting of the project’s executive committee in Dodoma, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Environment) in the Vice President’s Office, Ambassador Baraka Luvanda, said the programme would focus on strengthening the use of modern technologies and sustainable practices across key sectors linked to forest resources. The project is being implemented through a partnership involving the Vice-President’s Office, the First Vice-President’s Office of Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, and the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS).
Ambassador Baraka Luvanda noted that the initiative will help improve value chains for non-timber forest products while creating new economic opportunities for communities living within and around woodland areas. By supporting better forest management and utilization practices, the programme is expected to enhance the commercial value of forest resources and contribute to long-term rural development.
The project will be implemented across seven regions, including Tabora, Rukwa, Katavi, North Unguja, South Unguja, North Pemba, and South Pemba. These areas contain important forest resources that support local industries through the supply of timber, poles, fuelwood, and a variety of forest-based products. Strengthening forest management in these regions is expected to improve resource availability and support sustainable growth in the wood sector.
According to Project Coordinator Mr James Chuyi, the programme is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented under the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Running from 2025 to 2029, the project will promote improved management of woodland resources while supporting community-based enterprises that rely on forest products for income and employment.
The miombo woodlands represent one of Tanzania’s most important forest ecosystems, providing valuable wood resources and supporting millions of livelihoods. Through strategic investments, institutional collaboration, and improved forest management practices, the programme is expected to strengthen the forestry sector, increase the value derived from wood and forest products, and ensure the sustainable utilization of Tanzania’s woodland resources for years to come.
