LUSHOTO: THE uhuru Torch Relay leader, Wazo Mwang’onda, has laid the foundation stone for the construction of Magamba Eco Forest Lodge Ltd, a TZS 2.5 b/- eco-tourism project being implemented in Magamba Nature Reserve in Lushoto district, Tanga Region.
The project, funded by Harmeet Grewal, was launched when the Torch Relay visited the district to inspect and launch various development projects.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Chief Conservator of Magamba Nature Reserve, Joyce Kabuchi, said the project has already invested over TZS 1.5 b/- in the initial stages of construction.
She said the investment aims to make Magamba Nature Reserve a hub for eco-tourism in the country by adding modern accommodation services, attracting local and international tourists, increasing government revenue and providing employment opportunities for the people of Lushoto and surrounding areas.
Inspecting the project, Mwang’onda commended the investment move and explained that it supports the Government’s efforts to grow the economy through sustainable use of forest resources without harming the environment.
In addition to laying the foundation stone of the project, the Torch of Liberty officially opened the Grewal eco-tourism investment area, managed by the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), and commended the collaboration between the public sector and private investors in developing tourism that focuses on environmental conservation.
During the visit, the Torch of Liberty also launched water tanks in Gologolo Village, where it was explained that water sources come from reservoirs managed by the TFS. The leaders stressed the importance of continuing to protect forests and water sources to ensure sustainable access to the service for the people.
ALSO READ: Uhuru Torch to inspect 27.7bn/- projects
For its part, TFS used the opportunity of the visit to distribute more than 100 tree seedlings to citizens and provide education on the importance of tree planting, forest conservation and environmental management in addressing the impacts of climate change.
The Magamba Eco Forest Lodge Ltd project is expected to be among the largest ecotourism projects in the country, serving as an example of investment that combines environmental conservation, sustainable tourism and economic development for communities surrounding the reserve.