The problem of forest and bush fires in the Tanzania is a result of failure of the existing fire management system. There is poor involvement of the communities thus lack control of it. There is no agreed community based approaches for fire management like strategies, regulations, by-laws and the associated penalties, distribution of roles and responsibilities, decision-making power and availability of necessary resources.

1. Status of forest fires in Tanzania: causes, impacts and
control strategies
Presenter,
Paulo Lyimo
December, 2014.
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2. 2
PRESENTATION STRUCTURE
• Introduction
• Causes of forest fire
• Impacts of forest fire
• Control strategies
• Challenges for successful control
• Conclusion and recommendation
8/23/2016 Status of forest fires in Tanzania

3. Introduction
• Forest fires are a global concern
• Forest fires have both potential disasters as well as
potential blessing
• In Tanzania wildfires are increasing particularly in the
last 10 years.
• An average of 11 million hectares burn annually in
Tanzania
• In 2010, Tanzania lost about 75,000 ha of forests
through fire
• Fire causes ecological, economical and social impacts
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Status of forest fires in Tanzania

4. Causes of forest fire
• Farm preparation
• Charcoal making
• Hunting
• Beekeeping activities
• Control burning
• Traditional beliefs
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5. Preparation of agricultural fields with fire in Uyui district, Tanzania
(Photo by Paulo Lyimo, 2014)

6. Impacts of forest fire
• Plantations: loss in volume of timber, increase rotation
age
• Natural forest: important to regenerate and stimulate
the growth of grass, loss of biodiversity
• Woodlands: changing the structure and species composition
fire has a significant effect on climate change
Loss of houses and property
Loss of lives
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7. Table for Fire damage in districts, Tanzania
Village Ward District Damage on Crops and planted
trees
Damage on house and
household items (TSh.)
Loss of lives
Kizungu Muze Sumbawanga Rural Farm with maize 535, 000 (2010) 1 house and property
500,000
Kifuru Busagara Kibondo A banana farm 100, 000 (2010) A house and property
200,000 (1990s)
A house and property 84,
500 (20020
A house and property
200, 000 (1970s)
All houses in a sub
village 2, 000,
000+(1993)
A child (2009)
An elderly
Woman (1994)
Ipole Ipole Sikonge A farm with cassava 210, 000
(2010)
Ahouse 145, 000 (2010)
Luhimba Gumbiro Songea Rural Mix crops in a farms 105, 000 loss
A peas farm 690, 000(2011)
A 3 ha cassava farm 105, 000 loss
(2009)
2 houses and property 2,
200, 000 (2011)
3 houses 700, 000 (2010)
Store house 1, 000, 000
Mbonile Ulenje Mbeya Rural A farm 900,000 (2004)
Two farms 900,000 (2009)
Ulanzi (bamboo) farm 269, 000
Pines trees 250, 000 (2011)
Pines trees 900, 000 (2009
A house 900, 000 (2009)
A house 632, 000 (2010)
A house 200, 000 (2011)
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Source: (URT, Undated)

8. Control strategies
• Public education
• Uses of laws, bylaws and regulations
• Participatory Forest Management i.e. CBFiM
• Use of successful traditional forest management
systems
• Establishment of NFMC under TFS
• Anti-fire posters (“Usichome moto”)
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9. Anti-fire posters (“Usichome moto”) in different location in Mwanga District
Source: (Madoffe, S.S, (Undated). Fire reduction strategies in the Eastern
Arc Mountains of Tanzania)

10. Challenges for successful control
• Inadequate data and information
• Shortage of funds
• Lack of political will
• Unsustainable short term projects
• Poor knowledge of long term effects of fire
on the environment
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11. Conclusion and recommendation
• Forest fire is a multi-sector issues
• Forest fire is a national problem, however, limited
data inhibit its management, and most of the
information is based on opinions.
• The government from village to national level
should dedicate more resources for fire concern
• A national campaign on forest fire management is
needed
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12. References;
• Dimopoulou. M and Giannikos. I. (2001). Towards an Integrated Framework for Forest Fire Control.
European Journal of Operational Research 152 (2004) 476–486pp.
• Gautier, L. and Spichiger, R. (2004). The forest–savanna transition in West Africa. In: Poorter, L.,
Bongers, F., Kouame´, F.N., Hawthorne, W.D. (Eds.), Biodiversity of West African Forests: An
Ecological Atlas of Woody Plant Species. CAB International, Wallingford, 33–40pp.
• Kalugendo, J. (2012). Communication Strategies for Community-Based Fire Integrated Management in
Tanzania. A consultancy report submitted to the Forest and Beekeeping Division and Tanzania Forest
Services
• Karki, S. (2002). Community Involvement in and Management of Forest Fires in South East Asia. Fire-
fighting south East Asia. The international Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Wide
Fund for nature (WWF).
• Kurtulmuslu, M and Yazici, E. (2000). Management of Forest Fires Through the Involvement of Local
Communities in Turkey. Ministry of Forestry. Turkey.
• Madoffe, S.S., Mgumia, F.H. and Kajembe, G.C. 1998. Relationship between bush fires, and people’s
occupation in miombo woodland. Paper presented in Second forestry research workshop, Arusha,
Tanzania 3-5 August 1998.
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13. • Madoffe, S.S., A. Bakke and J.A. Tarimo. 2000. The effect of fire on the diversity and abundance of
wood-living beetles in miombo woodland, Tanzania. SA For Jr. 187: 51 – 57.
• Madoffe, S.S, (Undated). Fire reduction strategies in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. A
consultancy report submitted to the Forestry and Beekeeping Division by FORCONSULT (SUA)
• Mlenge, W. C, Kaale B and Barrow E. (2001) Ngitili, as Sukuma Method to restore wood and grass
lands in Shinyanga-Tanzania. (Unpublished manuscript, HASHI, Shinyanga, Tanzania, 2001).
• MNRT, (2011). Synthesis Report on joining efforts towards integrated fire management in Tanzania.
Multi-stakeholders Workshop took place in Morogoro in October organized by Forest and Beekeeping
Division supported by the Government of Tanzania in collaboration with German International
Cooperation and Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the Government of
Finland.
• URT, (2008). Strategies to avert wildfires in Tanzania 2008-2013.pp11
• URT, (Undated). Indigenous knowledge, Practices, and Customary Norms of Fire Mangement in
Tanzania - A study in Nine village
• World Wide Fund for nature (WWF). (2006) Community-based Fire Management Plan and By-laws in
the East usambaras. The East usambara forest landscape restoration project
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