Lowland coastal forests are under threat from a combination of human activities, chiefly agriculture, fuelwood collection and pole cutting. As the human population expands, agricultural areas continue to expand into forest areas. Native forests were often converted into plantations in recent decades, and now they are subject to unsustainable logging. Near Dar es Salaam, charcoal production, timber extraction and mining are additional problems. However, throughout the country, there still remains little accurate data on resource availability and use, and a limited appreciation of the true value of forests to the national economy.

Management of forestry resources in Tanzania is complex due to a system whereby district authorities, regional authorities and the Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) all have specific, but overlapping, roles. However, all levels of government are underfunded and increases in equipment, transport, office infrastructure, communications and staff training are all urgently required to improve the capacity of institutions to manage forest resources more effectively. At the same time, local communities around forest reserves have a very limited role in management decision- making and extension work to provide an interface between reserve authorities and the people is needed. Many people have no options for an alternative resource base other than the illegal exploitation of resources including forest reserves.

The regional and district authorities made efforts to upgrade activities in the forest sector and produced a draft Coast Region Forestry Action Plan (CRFAP) in 1991. This follows from the realisation of the need to translate the TFAP into a feasible plan and process at the regional and district level. WWF was appointed a member of the Steering Committee for the CRFAP. Two major programme areas are identified in the CRFAP: (1) Forestry Management: Demarcation of New Forest Reserves and (2) Community and Farm Forestry; Conservation of Woodland and Production of Woodfuel and Timber.

The CRFAP states that protection of forest will be better served through the demarcating of District Forest Reserves and by encouraging village councils to set aside Village Forest Reserves. The rationale for the proposition is that districts would be more likely to take protection measures for their forests because of their revenue earning potential whilst the village control of forest reserves within the demarcated boundaries of villages, would encourage protection of the resulting supply of fuelwood poles and timber. CRFAP therefore proposes that creation of these reserves goes hand in hand with the process of demarcation of village boundaries which continues in the village. The CRFAP Community and Farm Forestry programme envisages complementing the above-mentioned management of natural forests within village boundaries with the establishment of tree nurseries and the encouragement of farm-level tree planting agroforestry schemes around them..

Representative samples of lowland coastal forests in Tanzania are conserved for their biodiversity and socio-economic importance.

Village, district, regional and national government have the institutional capacity to manage and protect key forests and forest reserves in Coast Region.

Ecosystems within forest reserves are conserved through efficient management systems acceptable to, and including the participation of, local communities.

Local communities develop an alternative resource base to reduce pressure on lowland coastal forests.

Local communities attain a greater awareness of conservation and sustainable resource use through a programme of education and public awareness.

Biological and socio-economic research and monitoring provide a basis for forest reserve management.

• Effective protection of 4 forest reserves in Coast Region.
• Effective supervision by District Forest Officers.
• Full baseline information on forest and land use for target Forest Reserves and surrounding areas.
• Village and farm-level nurseries establishment around target FRs.
• Village-level agroforestry schemes.
• Trained selected District Foresters, nurseymen/extension aides and widespread extension of nursery techniques.
• Biological surveys, socio-economic survey and research projects underway or completed.
• Boundary line re-surveys and demarcations underway or completed.
• Coastal forests booklet printed and distributed.
• Extension materials developed and utilised.