The Tanzanian Perspective
Unlike many countries across the world, Tanzania’s contribution to greenhouse gasses stems not from industry, which is less than 1%, but from deforestation and land use change which contributes 53% of the countries carbon emissions - followed by agriculture producing 33% and energy 13% (CEEST, 1999). Wood fuel (charcoal and firewood) is the main source of energy to both rural and urban areas, accounting for 90% of primary energy supply, in real terms this equates to 32 million cubic meters of wood a year. Furthermore, deforestation and emissions due to agriculture will continue to be influenced by population pressure which is growing at 2.8% annually.
We at Carbon Tanzania believe that in order to effectively mitigate against Tanzania’s contribution to climate change, our activities should focus on reforestation, forest protection, and the substitution of wood fuels by alternative energy sources, i.e. introducing and developing locally workable alternatives to charcoal, and helping to replant indigenous trees for future consumption coupled with protection and management.
Our main focus at Carbon Tanzania is working with rural communities, whilst incorporating the Forestry Division and private sector, in replanting large areas of indigenous forest, providing corridor habits for forest fauna, and working to mitigate future damage through empirically based and technically proven practices.
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