Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA Forest Service (TFS) has signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MoU) between TFS and the Hunan Forestry Department of China, outlining specific areas of cooperation, including joint research, exchange of experts and promotion of ecotourism, especially in forest reserves.
This came during a visit by forestry experts from Hunan Province, China, to the Itega Headquarters, Dodoma.
The visit aims to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation in conservation, research and ecotourism between the two institutions.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for Forest Conservation, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, said the agreement will provide a new vision for international cooperation in protecting forests, promoting joint research, and developing tourism that involves communities in conservation activities.
“We have agreed to develop a long-term cooperation framework that will enable the exchange of experts, conservation technologies, and promote joint research on ecological tourism.
He added, “This is a great opportunity to strengthen conservation diplomacy and protect our forests for the benefit of future generations,” said Prof. Silayo.
For his part, the Head of the Chinese Delegation, who is also the Director of the Hunan Forestry Department, Jianga Rui, said the Chinese Government has set a goal to establish friendly relations between the forest reserves of the two countries. He said the goal is to strengthen mutual understanding on environmental conservation and the development of forest tourism.
“We are impressed by Tanzania’s system of reserve management and the way communities are involved in conservation. We want to learn from you and establish joint projects that will enhance friendly relations and promote ecotourism,” said Jianga Rui.
He added that, in accordance with the internal procedures of Hunan province, the cooperation will be through diplomatic channels. Therefore, after returning to China, his team will submit an official statement to the relevant authorities to coordinate the preparation of the draft agreement.
“We will submit a report to our authorities, and after obtaining approval, we will prepare a draft cooperation agreement. We will maintain close communication to ensure that we move forward in its implementation,” he said.
The talks are a continuation of the four-day visit of the delegation, which previously visited the Pugu-Kazimzumbwi Nature Reserves in the Coastal Region, where they witnessed firsthand how TFS implements participatory conservation that enables communities to benefit through ecotourism.
“The TFS system provides a lesson to the world on how conservation and community development can go hand in hand,” said Jianga Rui.
Source: Daily News – Tanzania Standard Newspapers
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