Photo : One of the tree plantations destroyed by fire in Missenyi district, Kagera region in Tanzania
Authorities insist communities to reveal out wildfires setters
By Mutayoba Arbogast,
RESIDENTS in Missenyi district, Kagera region in Northwest Tanzania,have been warned not to set wildfires as they devastate natural vegetation, plantations and infrastructures that it puts the community into poverty.
The call was made recently at Gera FDC by Missenyi District Commissioner, Col. Hamis Maiga when was launching a campaign on the fight of setting wildfires, a habit which occurs in the warmest season of the year in June to August.
“Stop deforestation by human activities such as falling trees randomly, setting of wildfires, charcoal burnings which lead to climate change and desertification.
Wild fires cause a great loss not only on plantations but also to infrastructures such as electricity posts, and threaten people’s lives”, said Col.Maiga.
He said the government won’t hesitate to take stern measures to anybody caught lightning a fire in wilderness on pretext of preparing new pastures for cattle or otherwise.
The launch was also accompanied by the traing to Kiziba Division residents who showed up at the college.
The campaign is organised by Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) towards environmental conservation.
“The problem of environmental arson is huge in Missenyi ,we have to work together to eliminate these rude actions in order to protect our forests as well as farmers’ crops that are burnt during summer”, said Mrisho Athuman Missenyi District TFS Manager.
Missenyi District Council Chairperson, Projestus Tegamaisho urged GFS to be keen in monitoring the fire trends in all villages of the district and tracking those found to be arsonists and bring them before the court of law.
According to GLOBAL FOREST WATCH, between 10th of May 2021 and 6th of May 2024, Missenyi had a total of 623 VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite), that in 2010 it had 66 kha of tree cover extending to 24% of its land area
In 2023 Missenyi lost 400 hectares of trees cover, equivalent to 153 kilototn (kt) of Carbon dioxide emissions.
Between 21st of June 2021 and 17th of June 2024, Tanzania experienced a total of 411 VIIRS fire alerts. In 2010,it had 24.7 mha of natural forests, in 2023 it lost 229 kha of natural forests equivalent to 89.9 metric ton of Carbon dioxide emissions.
A Fire Baseline in Tanzania 2013 reported that an average of 11 hectares burnt annually, and there were 900,000 fires detected by satellite since November 2000.
“It is a problem of land poisoning, forestry policy and legislation as much as it is a problem of equipment ……” a part of the Baseline read.
Meanwhile, a wildfire has claimed one person’s life in Bugombe village, Kanyigo ward in Missenyi district.
Corroborating information from some village dwellers, say that Thomas Katwanga (58) died in the evening of 16th June this year, when he was putting off the fire not to burn down trees of one he was working for, unfortunately he lost sight as heavy smoke choked him, engulfed by fire.
