TANAPA wins two regional conservation awards
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has won two awards at the East Africa Conservation Excellence Awards 2026 in recognition of its outstanding contribution to wildlife protection, biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.
TANAPA received the Outstanding National Parks Conservation Company of the Year Award, while Ruaha National Park was named the winner of the Excellence in Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management – National Park Award 2026.
The awards were presented at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam on Saturday. Chief guest, Mr Mohamed Ally, Director of Business Support Services, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), Dr Andrew Komba, commended TANAPA for its leadership and continued commitment to conservation.
He said the authority had played a significant role in protecting rare and endangered species, helping threatened wildlife populations survive and recover despite increasing conservation challenges.
Mr Ally also underscored the importance of Ruaha National Park’s conservation efforts to food security, noting that protecting vital water sources and ecosystems helps sustain water availability for irrigation and supports rainfall patterns, thereby contributing to agricultural production and food availability.
Receiving the awards on behalf of TANAPA Conservation Commissioner, Mr Massana Mwishawa, Ruaha National Park Commanding Officer, Assistant Conservation Commissioner Emmanuel Moirana, said the recognition would motivate the authority to further strengthen its conservation initiatives.
He reaffirmed TANAPA’s commitment to ensuring that the country’s natural resources continue to contribute to economic growth, environmental sustainability and food security.
Tanzania has 21 national parks, including internationally renowned conservation and tourism destinations such as Serengeti, Nyerere, Ruaha and Tarangire, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro.
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These protected areas conserve critical ecosystems, safeguard diverse wildlife populations and support the country’s tourism industry through employment creation, investment and revenue generation.
The awards followed an evaluation by the East Africa Conservation Excellence Awards Committee, which recognised organisations demonstrating outstanding contributions to conservation, biodiversity protection, climate action and sustainable development.
The recognition also reflects the collective efforts of TANAPA employees, government institutions, local communities and development partners in protecting Tanzania’s natural heritage for present and future generations.
TANAPA is a public corporation mandated to manage and conserve Tanzania’s national parks. Its responsibilities include protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable tourism, with revenue generated from its operations reinvested in the organisation to support its conservation and management activities.
The authority operates under various legal instruments, including the National Parks Act, Chapter 282 of 2002 and the Wildlife Conservation Act No 5 of 2009.
