Mara to impose total ban on use of firewood as source energy

 Authorities in Mara Region plan to impose a total ban on the use of firewood as a source of energy.

This was revealed by Mara Regional Commissioner, Dr Charles Mlingwa, on Tuesday September 12, when briefing reporters on Mara Day, which will be marked on September 15. The ban, according to Dr Mlingwa, aims at protecting the environment.

"Soon we are going to ban use of trees as a source of energy in a bid to protect the environment,” said Dr Mlingwa urging people to start using alternative source of energy.

Dr Mlingwa said that minister of State in Vice President Office dealing with Union and Environment, Mr Januari Makamba is expected to be a guest of honour during the commemorations.

He said conservation of Mara River basin was one of issues which will be highlighted during the Day. He said the basin was important to the welfare of Tanzania and Kenya and there were a number of economic opportunities and infrastructure that depends on the presence of Mara river basin including the Serengeti National park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya.

He said that in the last five years they have managed to plant more than two million trees. He said Kenya has also managed to stop human  activities within Mau Forest, which is the source of Mara River.