MOROGORO: THE Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) has surpassed its revenue collection target, collecting more than Shs. 189b/- against the target of Shs. 176b/-.
As of February this year, it had already collected Shs. 127b/-, equivalent to 70 per cent of the annual estimate in revenue from domestic sources.
In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Hassan Abbasi has commended TFS for demonstrating significant operational reforms, increasing revenue, and making the forestry sector an important pillar of the national economy.
Officially closing the Fourth Meeting of TFS Leaders and Commanders of Stations today in Morogoro, Dr Abbasi said the institution’s achievements show that forests are not a marginal sector but an engine for economic, health, water, and environmental development.
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Dr Abbasi said the increase is a sign of strategic changes within the institution.
He also commended TFS for investing in eco-tourism within forest reserves, saying the number of tourists has increased rapidly from 59,606 tourists in 2020/2021 to 346,394 currently.
In addition, income has increased from 155m/- to 2b/- a move that shows the significant growth of the sector within the institution.
“This shows that forests are not just for trees, but are an economic resource,” he stressed.
Dr Abbasi said the forestry sector now contributes 3.4 per cent of the GDP, continuing to be an important pillar in the fight against climate change and the protection of water sources.
In the foreign market, sales of forest products have reached 196.9bn/-, with 1,596 tons of honey being exported at a value of 19.2 b/-.
