Dr Nchimbi graces the national tree-planting campaign in Lindi

LINDI: THE Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi has officially launched the International Day of Forests and the National Tree Planting Campaign 2026, warning that the rate of forest loss in the country has reached 460,400 hectares per year and urging Tanzanians to take urgent steps to protect this important resource for the economy and the environment.

Speaking today at Ilulu Stadium, Lindi Region, Nchimbi said forests are not only a source of life but are a pillar of a sustainable economy, noting that the sector contributes 3.5 percent of the national GDP, reaching up to 20 percent when the value of ecosystem services that have no market price is included.

“Today, we are launching a national tree planting campaign to increase public awareness of planting and caring for trees. We cannot continue to tolerate this loss of forests,” he said.

He explained that Tanzania has approximately 48.1 million hectares of forests, equivalent to 55 percent of the total land area, but a large part is facing threats from human activities, including encroachment, burning, illegal logging, and excessive use of firewood and charcoal.

In his speech, he stressed that the campaign is a direct implementation of Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision through the “Green Tanzania” agenda, noting that more than 113 million trees have already been planted since 2023.

He issued instructions to regional leaders and councils in the country to ensure that they implement effective tree planting strategies based on the ecology of the relevant areas, while emphasizing community education and participatory management of village forests.

The Vice President also directed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) to strengthen research that will help solve the challenges of tree farmers and identify the right types of trees for each area.

In addition, he directed the Tanzania Forestry Services Agency (TFS) to increase the production of tree seedlings and strengthen nurseries in the country to ensure access to quality seedlings for the public.

In another step, Nchimbi used the platform to direct the Ministry of Energy to accelerate the implementation of the national grid electricity project for the Lindi and Mtwara regions, emphasizing that it is a priority order of the government.

“The Minister of Energy has no choice; he must manage this matter quickly as directed by the President,” he emphasized.

Earlier, the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, said the Lindi region is blessed with vast forest resources, including a wide belt of mangroves and miombo forests, and that the celebrations have provided an opportunity to learn and promote conservation.

For her part, Lindi Regional Commissioner, Zainab Telack, said more than 1.058 million hectares of forests have been legally protected in the region, noting that village forests have been a catalyst for development through revenues of more than 3.2 billion shillings per year.

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She added that the region has already planted 5.7 million trees for the period starting in 2024/25, equivalent to 64 percent of the target, with 88 percent of the trees showing good germination.

This year’s celebrations with the theme “Forests are a Sustainable Economy, Let’s Preserve them for National Development” will culminate on March 21, expected to coincide with a national tree planting campaign aimed at increasing natural vegetation and protecting the environment for present and future generations.