Summary
–Tanzania’s exports of live trees, plants, bulbs, roots, and cut flowers reached a value of USD 28.15 million in 2024, according to data updated through February 2026.
–Timber consumption is expected to more than double from 2.3 million cubic metres in 2013 to 5.2 million cubic metres by 2035, driving the need for increased production.
MOROGORO: THE government has called upon the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) to enhance its tree-planting initiatives, production, and export of forest products.
This move aims to strengthen the performance of the environmental-economic sector in the country.
The goal is for the state-owned agency, which is responsible for managing forest and bee resources, to increase Tanzania’s export of forest products from the current 9,000 tonnes to at least 50,000 tonnes annually.
This ambitious target was announced by the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr. Hamad Hassan Chande, during the opening of the TFS 4th Annual Meeting held in the Morogoro region.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized the need for TFS to educate communities on proper beekeeping practices, enabling them to generate income and create employment through forest-based products.
“TFS must also intensify efforts to develop new tourism products derived from forest resources. This will attract more visitors to forest sites and support the government’s goal of welcoming 8 million tourists by 2030,” he noted.
Furthermore, Mr. Chande commended TFS for strengthening forest resource management and largely resolving boundary conflicts between forest reserves and villages.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry’s Secretary-General, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Bernard Marcelline, stressed the importance of aligning TFS plans with the 2025–2030 Election Manifesto, the 2025/26 budget commitments, and the Fourth Strategic Plan (2026/27–2030/31).
He also highlighted the need to consider staff interests during the preparation of the 2026/27 budget.
Earlier, the TFS Commissioner for Conservation, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, reported that despite numerous conservation challenges, TFS has continued its efforts to protect forests.
These include leveraging ICT technologies, training communities in tree planting and forest conservation, enacting bylaws against forest destruction, and implementing a 30-year strategy for forest plantation management.
What you need to know
For the 2025/26 financial year, the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) is implementing a massive scale-up in tree production and forest product exports.
Tree Seedling Production (2025/26)
Production Achieved: As of early 2026, TFS has produced over 167 million tree seedlings for the 2025/26 financial year.
Target Exceeded: The initial target for the 2025/26 period was 130 million seedlings, meaning production has already exceeded this goal by approximately 28.5 percent.
Seed Production: Over 115.9 tonnes of tree seeds have been produced to support these seedling efforts.
New Plantations: TFS plans to establish two new forest plantations covering 28,000 hectares in the Geita and Rwamgasa regions.
Export Rates and Targets
Export Target: TFS has been directed to increase the export of forest products from the current 9,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes per year.
Export Value (Live Plants/Trees): Tanzania’s exports of live trees, plants, bulbs, roots, and cut flowers were valued at USD 28.15 million in 2024, with data updated to February 2026.
Future Demand: Timber consumption is expected to more than double from 2.3 million cubic metres in 2013 to 5.2 million cubic metres by 2035, driving the need for increased production.
Key Focus Areas for 2026
Pine Resin: TFS is focusing on the potential of its 74,446 hectares of pine plantations, which have the potential to generate about 8 tons/ha of resin per year for trees older than 10 years.
Beekeeping: Enhanced efforts are in place to increase income through forest-based beekeeping products.
Technology: The agency is deploying drone technology to survey and verify the boundaries of 170 forests.
About TFS
Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) is a semi-autonomous government Executive Agency whose establishment is supported by the Executive Agency Act (Cap. 245 Revised Edition 2009), the National Forest and Beekeeping Policies adopted in March 1998 and administered through The Forest Act (No. 14 of 2002) and Beekeeping Act (No. 15 of 2002) which provides the legal framework for the management of forests and bee resources.
TFS develops and manages forest and bee resources sustainably in collaboration with stakeholders to deliver sufficient and quality goods and services to meet local and international socio-economic and environmental needs. The specific role and responsibilities of TFS are:Establishing and managing national natural forest and bee.
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