TANZANIA'S growing carbon trading sub-sector is proving to be a boon for communities nationwide, with 73 registered projects, for which over 45bn/-has been disbursed in ten districts.

Khamis Hamza Khamis, the Union and Environment deputy minister in the Vice President's Office (VPO) made this affirmation in the legislature over the weekend when responding to an inquiry from Bernadeta Mushashu (Special Seats) seeking clarification on the local benefits of carbon trading.

Detailing the range of registered projects, he said 51o percent are in forestry, 33 percent relate to energy, eight percent in agriculture, five percent focus on livestock and three percent on waste management. 

“These initiatives are not only crucial for forest and land conservation, job creation and boosting household incomes, but also for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in line with Tanzania's nationally determined contributions targets for climate change mitigation,” he stated.

The substantial funds flowing into the councils are being channeled into vital community projects including the construction of schools and dispensaries, health insurance payments, along with covering school fees and meals for pupils, he said.

Carbon trade investors must register a company and secure land specifically for tree planting, he said in response to a follow -up question, noting that after obtaining the land via a registration fee, investors are required to prepare a comprehensive proposal and submit it to the National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC) for project implementation approval.

VPO and other relevant bodies will intensify efforts to educate residents of Kagera Region to take up opportunities in carbon trading as the region has extensive forests given its abundant rainfall, he said.

He similarly affirmed Tanzania's full collaboration with the international community in developing effective climate change mitigation measures, responding to Nusrat Hanje (Special Seats) standing in for her colleague Asya Mwadini Mohammed.

Tanzania's comprehensive climate change strategy is based on promoting the use of alternative energy sources in the clean cooking energy, curbing deforestation and ratifying key protocols such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

Developing strategic policy tools for clear direction, pushing programmes and projects designed to help communities withstand the impacts of climate change are major operational goals, he said.

Implementing diverse climate change resilience projects nationwide, encompassing tree planting, the distribution of clean water for domestic and livestock use and the construction of irrigation infrastructure are other major aspects of the mitigation effort, he elaborated.

Building protective walls in erosion-prone coastal areas, constructing ridges and dams for flood control, empowering communities to innovate alternative and environmentally friendly income-generating projects and restoring degraded land areas are similarly being pursued, he said.

These ongoing efforts underscore Tanzania's strong commitment to mitigating climate change and ensuring that various communities directly benefit from sustainable environmental practices, he added.