THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM

FORESTRY & BEEKEEPING DIVISION

OTHER DIVISIONS

UNITS

FORESTRY & BEEKEEPING SECTIONS

DIVISION OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVE

The division objective is to develop, implement and monitor mechanisms for sustainable conservation and management of forest and bee resources and services in the Country.

ABOUT FORESTRY & BEEKEEPING DIVISION

Led by a Director

Forestry and Beekeeping Division – FBD is one of the divisions under Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism which is purposely for regulating two sectors being Forest Sector and Beekeeping Sector in the country. The division was formed in 1985 after the combination of Beekeeping Department and Forestry Department due to government restructuring and cost reduction exercise.

The whole process of transformation was geared towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the management and administration of the forestry and Beekeeping sectors which have all culminate to the formation of Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) in 2010. The main role of TFS is to manage national forest and bee resources in a sustainable manner by ensuring sustainable supply of various forest and bee products and services, stable ecosystem and maintaining biological diversity

GUIDANCE, POLICY & LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Forestry and Beekeeping division is guided by the National Forest and Beekeeping Policies adopted in March 1998, whose overall goals are to enhance the contribution of the forest and beekeeping sector to the sustainable development of Tanzania and the conservation and management of her natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Implementation of the Forest and Beekeeping Policies is done using National Forest Policy Implementation Strategy and National Beekeeping Policy Implementation Strategy ten-year frameworks (2021 – 2031), The Forest Act of 2002 (Cap. 323) and Beekeeping Act of 2002 (Cap. 224) together with its guidelines provide legal framework for the management of forests and bee resources.

Policy, Act, Subsidiary legislations and guidelines are implemented by Institutions under the Division which are; Tanzania Forest Service Agency –TFS and Tanzania Forest Fund – TaFF.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF INSTITUTIONS UNDER FBD

  • TFS has role of managing the Natural Forest Reserves, Forest in unprotected areas, Tree Plantations and Bee reserves of the Central government as well as developing and producing quality tree seeds.
  • TaFF has role of facilitating stakeholders in the forestry and beekeeping sector in conservation, management and development of forests and beekeeping resources.

 

In implementing the Forest and Beekeeping policies, the Division collaborate with training and Research Institutions within and outside the Ministry. Institutions within the Ministry includes:

  • Tanzania Forest Research Institute – TAFORI
  • Forest Training Institute – FTI
  • Forest Industries Training Institute – FITI
  • Forestry and Wood Industries Training Centre – FWITC 
  • Beekeeping Training Institute – BTI

 

and outside the Ministry includes

  • The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)
  • Sokoine University of Agriculture
  • and others.

Policy, Act, Subsidiary legislations and guidelines are implemented by Institutions under the Division which are;

  • Tanzania Forest Service Agency –TFS
  • Tanzania Forest Fund – TaFF.

FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT SECTION

Led by an Assistant Director

Current Status

NAFORMA report shows that the forest land area is about 48.1 million ha in Tanzania Mainland. It also shows the extent of distribution by forest types and ownership, whereby Woodlands cover 44.6 million ha (93%) of the forestland while catchment forests; mangroves, coastal forests and government forest plantations occupy 3.4 million ha (7%).

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The existing forest tenure arrangements are under central government (34.5%), local government (6.5%) and village governments (45.7%), private (7.3%) and unreserved forests (6.0%). The highest percentage of forestland is owned and managed by village governments. However, 19.67 million ha (89.8%) of forests in village lands is unreserved (open access forest areas) and is subjected to unsustainable practices such as agricultural expansion, wild fires, livestock grazing and illegal harvesting.

The Government introduced Participatory Forest Management (PFM) that is being promoted all over the country to improve management of forest resources. There are two approaches to PFM. These are Joint Forest Management (JFM) and Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM). JFM takes place on reserved land owned and managed by either the government (central or local) or private sector. In this approach, forest- adjacent communities enter into joint management agreements to share responsibilities, costs and benefits with the owner. CBFM takes place on forests in village lands and reserved forests from general lands. In this arrangement, the local communities have full mandates to own and manage forests.

SECTION FUNCTIONS

  • Develop, review, monitor and evaluate implementation of National Forest Policy legislations, strategies and standards;

  • Develop, review and disseminate forestry extension services guidelines and monitor its implementation in liaise with Ministry responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government;

  • Provide technical advice, guideline and standards on carrying out environmental impact assessment for all investments in the forestry sector and monitor their implementation;

  • Coordinate and guide research undertaken by various institutions and organisations on the identified research priority areas in forestry;

    Establish guidelines and procedures for collection, analysis, storage and retrieval of forest resources data;

  • Prepare guidelines, coordinate and facilitate establishment and management of Forest Reserves;

  • Provide guidance in formation of groups involved in forest management and conservation; and

  • Customise, provide advice and coordinate/facilitate implementation of forestry development and management conventions and treaties.

BEEKEEPING DEVELOPMENT SECTION

Led by an Assistant Director

Current Status

Beekeeping in Tanzania plays a major role in socio-economic development. It is an important source of income especially for communities living close to forests and woodland. The country produces about 33,861 tons of honey and 1,913 tons of beeswax per year. This production is below the potential capacity of producing 138,000 tons of honey and 9,200 tons of beeswax per annum from the wealth of 9.2 million honeybee colonies. The beekeeping sector generates about US$ 2 million from export of honey and beeswax and employs more than 2 million people.

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Beekeeping is practiced all over Tanzania, with large production observed in the Miombo woodlands of southern highlands, central, western and northern zones. Potential beekeeping regions where bee products are harvested in large quantities are in the central and western part of the country. Key production regions include Tabora, Kigoma, Katavi, Singida, Geita and Shinyanga. Other regions with high potential include Iringa, Mbeya, Ruvuma, Lindi and Mtwara.

SECTION FUNCTIONS

  • Develop, review, monitor and evaluate implementation of Beekeeping Policy, Legislations, Strategies and Standards;
  • Develop, review and disseminate beekeeping extension services guidelines and monitor its implementation in liaise with Ministry responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government;
  • Prepare guidelines, coordinate and facilitate establishment and management of Bee Reserves;
  • Coordinate and guide research undertaken by various institutions and organisations on the identified research priority areas in beekeeping;
  • Provide technical advice, guideline and standards on carrying out environmental impact assessment for all investments in the beekeeping sector and monitor their implementation;
  • Establish guidelines and procedures for collection, analysis, storage and retrieval of bee resources data;
  • Provide guidance in formation of groups involved in beekeeping; and
  • Customize, provide advice and coordinate/facilitate implementation of beekeeping development and management conventions and treaties.

FUNCTIONS OF DESKS UNDER SECTIONS

Each section is divided into four desks namely:

POLICY AND LEGISLATION
  1. To monitor, evaluate and review National Forest and Beekeeping Policies and Legislations;
  2. To prepare and review Forest and Beekeeping guidelines;
  3. To provide technical translation of Forest and Beekeeping Policies, Act and Regulations to stakeholders to facilitate smooth implementation;
  4. To coordinate establishment of Forest and Bee reserves and strengthen their gazettement;
  5. To supervise preparation, review and insurance of regulations and technical guidelines of forest and beekeeping sector;
  6. To coordinate the preparation and dissemination of forest and beekeeping Policy, Act, Guidelines and Regulations materials to stakeholders;
  7. To prepare technical and administrative orders; and
  8. To prepare monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports;
  1. To Coordinate important events in the Forestry and Beekeeping sector which include National World Bee Day, World Forest Day and other forestry and beekeeping extension services;
  2. To facilitate dissemination of information to stakeholders involved in implementation of the National Forest and Beekeeping Policy Implementation Strategies;
  3. To facilitate Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to undertake extension services and publicity of Forestry and Beekeeping;
  4. To prepare, review and issue technical guidelines on forestry and beekeeping extension packages;
  5. Repackage and facilitate dissemination of new forestry and beekeeping technologies and research findings to the target groups at the community level;
  6. To monitor and evaluate performance of technology transfer and understanding of disseminated policies and strategies to stakeholders;
  7. To facilitate capacity building for extension officers on technology transfer;
  8. To coordinate Participatory Forest Management (PFM) activities undertaken by TFS, LGAs and NGOs and communities;
  9. To organize and facilitate participation of forestry and beekeeping stakeholders in National exhibitions and International trade fairs;
  10. To prepare and review the National Forest and Beekeeping Extension Strategy; and
  11. To prepare monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports;
  1. To prepare and promote investment opportunities in Forestry and Beekeeping;
  2. To prepare and coordinate programs/strategies and frameworks for development of Forest and Beekeeping industries;
  3. To liaise with stakeholders, monitor and evaluate performance of forestry and beekeeping industries;
  4. To facilitate capacity building of small and medium enterprises (SMEs);
  5. To organize and facilitate the Forestry industries week; and
  6. To prepare monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports;
  1. To prepare and integrate plans for the development and recurrent budget;
  2. To harmonize and align program plans and budgets from development partners, MDAs and other stakeholders contributing to the Forestry and Beekeeping Sector;
  3. To facilitate development of Sector performance indicators;
  4. To prepare budget speech and cabinet papers;
  5. To facilitate and coordinate the review of National Forestry and Beekeeping Programs/Strategies;
  6. To mobilize resources from internal and external sources;
  7. To coordinate implementation, supervision and operationalization of Climate change initiatives;
  8. To facilitate the establishment of Sector wide monitoring and database facility;
  9. To prepare and disseminate regular Forest and Beekeeping Sector physical financial reports;
  10. To coordinate joint reviews and evaluations of programme between the government and development partners and other stakeholders;
  11. To coordinate and facilitate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Forest and Beekeeping Sector;
  12. To monitor compliance on the implementation of regional, international obligations, treaties, conventions and agreements; and
  13. To prepare monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports;