Tanzania has launched, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a $37.4 million project aimed at combating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and reducing carbon emissions.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented through the Tanzania Forest Service (TFS), the initiative brings together contributions of $4.7 million from the GEF, $29.3 million from the TFS, $200,000 from the UNDP, and $3.2 million from private-sector partners.
Speaking at the project’s launch in Dar es Salaam, Hassan Abbasi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said the first phase will be implemented in the Chome Forest in Kilimanjaro and the Amani, Magamba, and Nilo nature reserves in the Tanga region.
He also emphasized that the project reflects international confidence in Tanzania’s climate and environmental policies.
Abbasi noted that the project’s success in the pilot regions could lead to a nationwide expansion, adding that healthy forests are vital for human survival and sustainable development.
For her part, Kemilembe Mutasa, Director of Environment in the Vice President’s Office, stated that the project will also support the National Clean Cooking Strategy, which aims to achieve 80% clean energy use among households by 2030.
Gertrude Lyatuu, UNDP Programme Specialist, added that the project will promote renewable energy, discourage deforestation, and encourage the use of electric vehicles in the tourism sector to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.