FOREST BASED INDUSTRIES AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
Rationale
The key challenges in the forest industry and products have been inefficient forest utilization and technology. The programme is meant to tackle wasteful and non-sustainable logging and utilization of forest produce, and meeting the national demand for forest produce such as woodfuel, sawn timber, pulp and paper, NWFP and other forest produce. Dependence on forest products by majority of the rural communities for their livelihoods enables forests to contribute to poverty reduction.
Objectives and indicators
The programme objectives and indicators are given in the Box below:
Objective: increased economic contribution, employment and foreign exchange earnings through sustainable forest-based industry development and trade of forest products
Indicators by 2010:
Ø investment into mechanical and/or chemical forest industry increased by 35%
Ø production of mechanical forest industry products increased by 30% and the value of exports by 25%
Ø chemical forest industry rehabilitated and in operation with appropriate environmental safeguards in place
Ø quality of Tanzanian forest products meet internationally acceptable standards
Ø employment in forest industry and related activities increased by 25%
Ø income generation from NWFP and services to local communities has increased by 20%
Ø dependence on wood fuel in national energy consumption reduced by 10%
Priorities
The forest-based industry has been inefficient in harvesting and processing due to inadequate participation of the private sector, obsolete technology, low capital, narrow products range and markets as well as poor infrastructure. However, many of the products provide considerable market and income generation opportunities, which have not been adequately addressed. The two top priorities sub-programme are:
(a) Forestry Products and Services Information Development
(b) Products and Markets Promotion and Awareness Creation
Sub programmes
Forestry Products and Services Information Development
Forest industry development has been weak because of limited knowledge and information on markets and marketing of forest products and services. This also includes limited information on raw materials for all ranges of wood and non-wood forest products. Priority here will be establishing updated database for traded and non-traded forest products & services, markets and dissemination of this information to relevant stakeholders
Products and Markets Promotion and Awareness Creation
The forest industry in Tanzania has traditionally been dominated by sawmilling, and to a lesser degree, fibreboard, chipboard and joinery and furniture. These products have mostly relied on few fine hardwood and plantations species. This has been a result of limited knowledge or inadequate promotion and awareness creation on lesser-used tree species and non-wood forest products and services. There is also limited knowledge on markets by local and international producers and inadequate marketing skills.
Priority in this component will be strengthening information management for the forest industries and markets and conducting extension service and publicity of lesser known/used species and promoting right end uses of wood products and creation of linkages between producers and consumers. Many products and services provide income-generating opportunities.
Forestry Industry Technology Development
The products from most industries have exhibited low quality as a result of obsolete and inappropriate technology for processing. The artisanal industry that employs a fairly large number of the rural population is equally facing limited technology for high quality products. The forest sector will facilitate the development and involvement of private sector in collaboration with other relevant sectors and institutions including the private financial institutions. The focus will be in developing quality standards for various products and facilitate development of appropriate technology.
Woodfuel constitutes about 92% of the energy used in the country. This high level of utilization threatens sustainable management of forest resources. The challenge has been development and innovation of affordable alternative sources of energy especially for the rural and urban poor communities. Priority will be to determine and develop alternative affordable sources of energy in collaboration with other stakeholders including research institutions and private sector.
Infrastructure Development
Most of the forest resources in the country are located in remote areas with poor infrastructure, mainly roads. This has impaired initiation and development of forest-based industry in terms of access to the raw materials and availability of the necessary facilities such as electricity. Again markets and marketing of products remains a problem in these areas. Priority actions will be providing support to development of infrastructure in forest plantations and natural forests in collaboration with other relevant sectors.