Seedling gap threatens forest restoration goals
Tanzania is facing a severe shortage of tree seedlings, which threatens the country's forest restoration goals under its National Development Vision 2050. The current supply meets only a fraction of the demand, hindering efforts to combat deforestation and climate change.
Why it matters
The failure to meet reforestation targets poses significant risks to Tanzania's economic stability and environmental health, potentially increasing poverty levels.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s ambitious plans to restore its forests under the National Development Vision 2050 face a major bottleneck, with a huge shortage of seedlings hampering reforestation efforts.
The gap threatens to undermine efforts to reverse forest loss and meet climate commitments.
A press statement by Tanzania Conservation and Heritage Initiatives (TCHI) shows that the country’s 184 local councils required 276 million tree seedlings during the 2024/25 financial year. However, Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) produced only 35 million seedlings, leaving an 87.3 percent supply shortfall.
The deficit is compounded by inadequate seed collection, with reports showing that between 2021 and 2025, annual collection ranged from 25.3 to 29.4 tonnes, below the national target of 40 tonnes.
TCHI also said planting exotic species such as eucalyptus had yielded limited benefits for farmers because they offered no immediate returns.
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