RUSSIA has pledged to support Tanzania in strengthening forest conservation and management through scientific research and advanced technology.

The collaboration will see Moscow provide Tanzania with cloud-connected devices for forest conservation, including high-quality drones and customised satellite systems. The initiative will also feature specialised training for local experts on using modern forest surveillance tools and software.

The development was announced here yesterday by Prof. Alexander Dobrovolsky, Vice-Rector for Scientific and International Activities at Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University. He led a delegation of Russian forest conservation experts on a mission to explore new areas of cooperation with Tanzania.

A team of 10 Russian forest experts arrived in Dodoma from Morogoro via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and held talks with Dr Pindi Chana, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism.

Speaking at the meeting attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania Forestry Service (TFS), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) and Tanzania Forest Industrial Training Institute, Dr Chana welcomed the partnership.

"Tanzania urgently needs to strengthen efforts to address challenges in forest management and conservation," she said. "I’m confident that this collaboration will enhance the performance of the sector and accelerate the adoption of modern systems."

She highlighted that forests cover approximately 48 million hectares of Tanzania’s land—about 55 percent of the total land area—making the sector a key contributor to the national economy, livelihoods and social welfare. The sector contributes 3 percent to Tanzania’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 2,000 workers.

Despite its significance, the sector faces major challenges, including illegal logging and deforestation which contribute to drought and other climate change effects.

"The government is eager to strengthen the skills of local experts, especially in using cloud-connected devices, drones, and satellites to address these challenges," she added.

She noted that the partnership would support implementation of the National Research Master Plan and improve forest conservation strategies.

Prof. Dobrovolsky emphasised that Russia's long standing ties with Tanzania, dating back to the 1960s, formed the foundation for this cooperation. He assured Tanzania of Russia’s commitment to sharing expertise and technology in forest management and conservation.

"We are here to exchange knowledge and explore areas of cooperation to enhance Tanzania’s forest management," he said.

Prof. Silayo Dos Santos, TFS conservation commissioner, described the partnership as a significant step toward improving Tanzania's forest conservation.

"Russia is a global leader in forest conservation, using advanced technology and AI to monitor and protect forests. Tanzania will benefit greatly from these advancements," he said.

He added that the collaboration would lead to better and more inclusive forest management policies and strengthen local training programmes to develop a skilled workforce.

The Russian delegation also visited the Russian Culture centre in Dar es Salaam and met with TAFORI’s management before heading to Morogoro for a tour of a carbon centre and SUA.