Dodoma. The government of Tanzania has launched a comprehensive five-year environmental transformation strategy aimed at restoring the nation’s natural canopy, expanding carbon trading, and dramatically scaling up sustainable energy use.
The Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi said that protecting the ecosystem is directly linked to the nation’s survival and economic future.
The national theme for the event was Vision 2050: Our Responsibility to Green Tanzania.
Central to the new environmental agenda is the Strategic Environmental Transformation Programme (2026–2030).
To ensure the success of these afforestation targets, Dr Nchimbi issued a directive to the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of tree seedlings nationwide.
Furthermore, local government authorities have been instructed to impose new conditions on property developers, requiring all future building permits to mandate the planting of at least five trees on-site.
Municipalities and cities have also been ordered to establish and maintain dedicated urban green spaces.
Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office [Union and Environment], Hamad Masauni, explained that the initiative is designed to deliver immediate, large-scale results by targeting the restoration of natural vegetation and enhancing ecological services across key economic sectors.
The strategy sets an ambitious national target of planting two billion trees annually, alongside promoting the circular economy and incorporating women and youth into green jobs.
“Tree-planting efforts must be matched by strict post-planting management to ensure long-term survival, directing local authorities to protect newly forested zones from degradation,” Dr Nchimbi noted.
In tandem with these local efforts, the National Carbon Coordinating Centre (NCMC) has been tasked with collaborating with the Prime Minister’s Office to identify and register suitable forests for the international carbon market, opening new economic avenues for local communities.
Addressing urban sanitation challenges, Dr Nchimbi urged local government authorities to modernise waste management infrastructure, particularly through the establishment of recycling hubs.
He called for a shift in public perception to view waste not as a nuisance, but as an economic resource capable of being processed into fertilisers and animal feed.
The Vice-President also highlighted the country’s rapid progress in clean cooking energy, which has risen from a 6.9 per cent adoption rate in 2021 to 28.6 per cent by 2025.
In a practical demonstration of these environmental strategies, the Ministry of Works, through the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), confirmed that more than 94,000 trees have already been planted along the Dodoma Outer Ring Road project.
Speaking at the exhibition, TANROADS Environmental and Social Manager, Zafarani Madayi, revealed that the initiative forms part of the Green Spine Project, jointly funded by the Global Environment Facility and the African Development Bank.
To sustain the greenbelt in the semi-arid region, the project is installing specialized drip irrigation infrastructure supported by 11 newly drilled boreholes and dedicated water reservoirs.
The event concluded with an appeal from leadership for individual responsibility, noting that environmental sustainability requires the active participation of every citizen.
“We must recognize that the protection and conservation of our environment has no alternative, because the environment is our life and our economy,” Dr Nchimbi said during his address.
“It is vital to ensure that tree-planting efforts do not end with the act of planting itself, but involve the continuous protection and care of these trees so they can grow and make the intended impact on our conservation goals.”
