TFS Injects 6.2bn/- To Government In Three Years 

Enhanced value chains and a surge in forestry product exports have enabled the Tanzania Forestry Services (TFS) to contribute a total of 62.9bn/- to the national treasury, marking a strong performance in the sector.

TANZANIA Forestry Services (TFS) has injected a total of 62.9bn/-  to the state coffer in terms of it dividend during a period between 2021 and 2023.

The contribution represents 15 percent of a total of over 371.9 bn/- which the Agency collected through its diverse internal sources during the three years in question.

Moreover, during 2023/24 and 2024/25 fiscal years, the state- owned Agency is projecting to contribute to the government’s chief account a total of 23.9bn/- and  25.1bn/- respectively.

TFS Conservation Commissioner, Professor Dosantos Silayo told reporters that up to 15th December last year, TFS  had collected 89.6bn/-, equivalent to 56 percent of estimated collections, added that a total of 175.9bn/- is expected to be raised in the coming fiscal year.

The Commissioner attributed the notable success in the revenue collections to continued efforts and strategy engineered by TFS to heighten its internal sources in order to minimize financial dependency from the central government.

“During the past three years, TFS  embarked on implementation of key strategies and development projects meant to boost and commercialise its activities, with an eye to increase revenue collections and dividends to the government,” he unveiled.

He disclosed some of the strategies  as effective monitoring of forests, a  30- year strategy on monitoring and development of government tree estates (2022-2050), development of ecological tourism, stakeholder involvement in conservation, tourism and public education, development of beekeeping sector as well as improvement of forest industries and forests products business.

“These initiatives are being implemented to ensure the forests are properly managed and are continuing to provide its ecological services to the deserved successful levels,” he stated.

Detailing over efforts to strengthen ecological tourism, commissioner Silayo said during the past three years, the sector recorded milestones in terms of increased number of tourists and incomes, ever before.

During 2020/21, we received  59,606 tourists in our forests tourism parks, generated a total of 154,965,050 annually, but in 2021/22, the visitors increased to the tune of 152,002 , the development which raised a total of 603,311,740/-,  equivalent to an increase of 55pc for tourists and  289pc for income gains.

He added, to a greater extent, the success has been attributed to efforts by the Sixth Phase government to improve tourism sector in the country, especially through filming of ‘Tanzania the Royal Tour’, thanks to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

“And the number of tourists has kept on mounting annually, for instance, during 2022/23, number catapulted to 242,824, an increase of 60.8pc, the vital stage which saw TFS pocketed over 1.3bn/-, equivalent to an increase of 127pc,” he said.

And during a period of half financial year 2023/24, a total of 152,954 tourists visited to the country’s forests tourism attractions, an increase of 8.5pc compared to a total of 140,907 tourists who visited forests parks the same period during 2022/23, according to him.

In addition, he communicated that TFS has collected a total of 1,270,064,100/- from the development, compared to  692,945,725/- collected during the same period in 2022/23 financial year, making an increase of 83.2pc.

“These figures set a new record as the agent has never achieved these goals before,” he bragged.

He added, TFS is currently working round the clock to attract at least 500,000 visitors at its varied  forest conservation parks, the  development which will enable it to realize a total of 3bn/- in terms of relevant revenues collections by the end of this year.

In the same vein, the commissioner expressed that during 2022/23, the government injected TFS with a total of 4bn/- from the amount disbursed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to help lessening effects of Covid-19.

The amount, he noted, was spent in implementation of projects to improve conservation and tourism in the forest sector.

“The projects which have been  completed, include installation of five entrance gates at five forest conservation parks , construction of 97 km of road stretch, as well as 190.5 km road for  pedestrians in 11 parks.

In addition, he said through its internal plan, TFS has developed ecological and cultural tourist attractions by repairing 231.7km of tourist routes and 873 km of forest roads; and preparing maps of ecological attractions in 25 parks.

“Together with that, he said the Agency has completed construction of 2 hostels at Wino tree farm in Madaba district council, Songea region, and the other in Saohill forest, Mafinga Iringa, as well as repairing one hostel and two guests houses at Aman conservation,” he stated.

To strengthen ecological tourism, he said TFS has continued to advertise tourist destinations for ecology, culture and the conservation of forest resources through various exhibitions in and outside the country.

 “The exhibitions include Sabasaba, Nanenane, Tanga Trade Fair, International Tourism Expo Japan 2022, East Africa International Tourism Expo, sTE and 2022 World Cup,” he added.

In addition, he stated that the agency in collaboration with stakeholders worked to create popular tourism tournaments, such as West Kili Forest Tour Challenge,  Bata Msituni Festival, Magamba Walkathon, Swahili Marathon, Meru Forest trail Run, Rubare Marathon, Mkeka na Khanga Festival and Sao Hill Forest Rally,” he briefed.

“Many stakeholders have come out to invest in facilitating ecology by setting up accommodation and recreational infrastructure in the forest,” 

” A major investment in tourism infrastructure is underway in the forests of Magamba, Pugu/ Kazimzumbwi, Meru/USA, Vikindu, Kinyerezi and Lake Duluti,” commissioner,”  Silayo added.

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