DODOMA: TANZANIA has registered over 63 carbon trading projects across various sectors, enabling the country to reduce its carbon footprint and generate revenue from environmental services.
Deputy Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Khamis Hamza Khamis told the National Assembly yesterday that the projects registered are across the sectors of agriculture (8 per cent), energy (33 per cent), forestry (51 per cent), livestock (5 per cent) and waste management (3 per cent).
Mr Khamis said this in response to a basic question by Amani MP, Abdul Yussuf Maalim (CCM) who sought to know the government’s plan to expand the carbon credit trade to reduce deforestation in the country.
Responding, he said that the government has been providing public education on the carbon trade to promote environmental conservation and reduce deforestation.
“Among the projects registered under the forestry sector, four involve tree planting, 20 focus on reducing forest degradation and loss, and five aim to restore natural vegetation,” he said.
Additionally, he said the government is implementing the National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034), which promotes the use of clean cooking fuels such as natural gas, renewable energy, alternative charcoal and electricity.
“These can contribute to the carbon trade and reduce the use of firewood and deforestation.” Furthermore, the government has prepared and is implementing the National Blue Economy Policy 2024 and the Implementation Strategy for the National Blue Economy Policy (2024- 2034).
“These have set strategies to promote the use of blue bonds and carbon trading in blue economy resource activities. The main goal is to expand the carbon trade in the country to strengthen environmental conservation,” the Deputy Minister said.
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In a supplementary question, Abdul Yussuf Maalim inquired about the government plans to conserve natural forests to benefit from the carbon trade, including how Zanzibar gains from the trade.
In response, the Deputy Minister said that the government has plans to conserve forests through a participatory approach, educating the public on forest conservation and imposing fines for forest damage such as charcoal burning.
Regarding Zanzibar, he said that they started by providing education to Regional Commissioners and ministers to inform them about the opportunities and significance of the trade, as a result, Zanzibar has already developed regulations and guidelines for this business.
In another supplementary question, Chaani MP, Juma Usonge Hamad (CCM) asked the areas where the carbon trade has started in Zanzibar.
Responding, the Deputy Minister said that Zanzibar was a bit behind, hence the initial focus on education to ensure understanding, as they have significant forests for carbon sequestration also there are opportunities for both blue and green carbon.
