MAJALIWA : 18 FOREST PLATANTION WILL BE HARVESTING TROUGH TFSA

The government, through TFSA owns 18 forest plantations. Harvesting of timber has been done in eight plantations namely: Sao Hill (Mufindi), Buhindi (Sengerema), Meru/Usa (Arumeru), West Kilimanjaro (Hai), Shume (Lushoto), North Kilimanjaro (Rombo), Kiwira (Rungwe) and Kawetire (Mbeya Rural).

In a statement issued to the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ yesterday by the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier clarified that the suspension was meant for making an evaluation on procedures, regulations and the proper criteria needed in distributing raw materials from the forests.

He called upon all stakeholders whose raw materials depend on forests, especially owners of timber factories, to be patient as the government works on the system, noting that they will be informed immediately after completion of the exercise.

Tanzania has continued to gain from timber exports. Recently, the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Eng Ramo Makani, told the National Assembly that the country earned 270bn/- from exporting timber for the past five years.

He added that Tanzania’s principal export destinations are India and China. However, he said no funds were realised from the sale of logs because its exports had been banned.

He said that from the year 2010 to last year, a total of 333,404 metric tonnes of timber were exported. India was the leading buyer of timber from Tanzania, The Asian nation purchased a total of 210,968 metric tonnes of timber, followed by China, which bought 68,337 metric tonnes.

The government decided to ban exports of logs and sandalwood and suspend tree-harvesting to protect natural forests. The minister said the government is committed and will continue to curb all forms of poaching, which also include illegal harvesting of logs.

“Proper and effective measures will continue to be taken by the government to ensure this problem remains history,” he assured the House.

Source: dairlyNew