The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Honourable Hamisi A. Kigwangalla was the guest of honour at the event. In his speech, the Minister urged the policy review team to reflect the findings of the workshop in the policy revision process.

Her Excellency, Florence Tinguely Mattli, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Tanzania gave the workshop’s opening remarks, expressing Switzerland’s commitment to support Tanzania in promoting sustainable forest management and charcoal production.

Participants recommended that the National Forest Policy address the widespread problem of deforestation driven by the conversion of forestlands to agricultural lands, in Tanzania. Participants also recommended that the national forest policy embrace forest-based enterprises, such as sustainable charcoal, which may incentivise communities to protect the natural forests on village land.