MWE Correspondent
Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamad Hassan Chande has called on the 13th Board of Directors of the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) to fully execute its mandate and develop practical solutions to challenges affecting the country’s forestry and beekeeping sectors.
Chande made the call on September 21, 2026, in Morogoro during the official inauguration of the new TAFORI Board, which is responsible for overseeing the institute’s operations and supporting the ministry in implementing national policies on forestry and beekeeping.
He said forestry and beekeeping are important contributors to Tanzania’s economy, environmental conservation and employment creation, particularly through increased participation of the private sector.
Chande urged the board to ensure that research conducted by TAFORI responds directly to challenges facing communities, forest managers, beekeepers and other stakeholders rather than remaining primarily academic.
Among the issues he highlighted was the growing challenge of forest fires, which can damage forests, slow tree growth and threaten conservation efforts.
He also raised concern over fires deliberately or accidentally started in protected areas, noting that such incidents can affect tourism by creating additional risks and disturbances for visitors.
“You will agree with me that stakeholders in forestry and beekeeping are facing challenges that require solutions. For example, forest fires occur and affect the growth of trees, while fires started in protected areas have also become a nuisance for tourists,” Chande said.
He therefore instructed the new board to prioritise research that provides practical solutions for forest-fire management while ensuring that conservation measures do not negatively affect tourism activities.
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Chande further called for research into early-warning mechanisms for detecting indicators of forest fires, saying timely information could help authorities and communities respond before fires spread and cause extensive damage.
Such systems could strengthen Tanzania’s capacity to protect forests and wildlife habitats, particularly during periods of dry weather when vegetation becomes highly vulnerable to fire.
The emphasis on early detection also comes amid wider efforts to strengthen climate resilience and sustainable management of Tanzania’s natural resources.
The Deputy Minister also directed TAFORI to support improvements in Tanzania’s honey value chain, particularly through laboratory testing of honey produced locally.
He said honey samples should be tested in laboratories available within the country rather than requiring producers to incur unnecessary costs associated with testing elsewhere.
According to Chande, strengthening domestic testing capacity would help reduce costs for producers while improving the competitiveness of Tanzanian honey in international markets.
Tanzania has significant potential in beekeeping due to its extensive forest resources and diverse vegetation. The sector provides income and employment opportunities for rural communities while also supporting pollination and forest conservation.
However, challenges including limited access to modern beekeeping technology, processing facilities, quality certification, market access and value addition continue to affect the sector’s ability to reach its full potential.
The inauguration of the 13th TAFORI Board comes as the government seeks to strengthen the connection between scientific research, policymaking and practical conservation.
The board is expected to guide research that can help improve forest management, increase the productivity of beekeeping, address forest fires and support sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
Chande said TAFORI research should ultimately provide evidence-based solutions that can be adopted by government institutions, communities and private-sector players.
The new board will therefore have a broader role beyond overseeing the institute’s activities, including helping translate research findings into practical interventions that support Tanzania’s environmental conservation, tourism, employment and economic development objectives.
