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Private sector key to Tanzania’s environmental and biodiversity efforts
What you need to know:
- This renewed appeal for private sector engagement follows the launch of the Sustainable Environmental Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project, a national initiative targeting the rehabilitation of over 5.2 million hectares of degraded forests and landscapes
Dar es Salaam. The government of Tanzania has underscored the critical role of the private sector in advancing sustainable environmental restoration and biodiversity conservation, particularly in mobilising financial resources, technical expertise, and innovative technologies.
Despite this recognition, participation from private actors remains limited, largely due to inadequate awareness of the opportunities presented by the restoration economy.
This renewed appeal for private sector engagement follows the launch of the Sustainable Environmental Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project, a national initiative targeting the rehabilitation of over 5.2 million hectares of degraded forests and landscapes.
The project seeks to address urgent challenges related to land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
According to Dr Damas Mapunda, the Project Coordinator from the Vice President’s Office, the initiative is led by the government through the Vice President’s Office, with technical backing from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and strategic partnerships with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bridge for Billions (BfB), an organisation that promotes innovation through entrepreneurship.
“A key feature of the project is the launch of the Restoration Factory Incubation Programme, which is an innovative platform designed to nurture climate-smart enterprises,” said Dr Mapunda.
He noted that the incubation initiative is pivotal to achieving national restoration objectives by fostering sustainable, community-driven economic activities.
The Restoration Factory will serve as a business incubator and mentorship centre, supporting environmentally focused entrepreneurs to build inclusive, climate-resilient businesses.
Its aim is to scale up business solutions that safeguard ecosystems, reverse environmental degradation, and deliver socio-economic benefits to local communities.
The programme will be implemented by Bridge for Billions in partnership with a Local Entrepreneurship Support Organisation (LESO).
It is expected to support 50 early-stage entrepreneurs or enterprises, providing them with structured mentorship in areas such as sustainable business model development, market positioning, and strategies for growth.
Targeted enterprises will offer environmentally sustainable products or services in sectors such as renewable energy, agroforestry, non-timber forest products (such as tree nurseries), livestock feed and pasture management, aquaculture, horticulture, and carbon market ventures.
The Restoration Factory will prioritise entrepreneurs based in The Restoration Initiative (TRI) priority areas, namely the Great Ruaha Basin, covering districts such as Iringa, Wanging’ombe, Mbarali, and Mbeya—and the Lake Rukwa Basin, including Sumbawanga, Mpimbwe, and Tanganyika.
Beyond its ecological ambitions, the broader project aims to promote integrated environmental management, bolster ecosystem and community resilience, and support job creation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate adaptation efforts.
IUCN Project Adviser, Mr Doyi Mazendele, highlighted the importance of aligning environmental restoration efforts with economic growth through increased private sector investment in green enterprises.
“This inclusive and forward-looking initiative marks a significant step in Tanzania’s journey towards a greener and more resilient future,” he said.
