Article Proceedings
Tanzania is one of the highest biodiversity in the world, containing a significant number of endemic and
threatened plant, mammal, bird, reptile, frog, butterfly, snail, and millipede species. Tanzania has set aside
about 40% of her area for conservation, including total land mass and marine area, hence categorized as
a ‘mega-diversity’ nation. There are about four identified financing sources of forestry research sector in
Tanzania, including Government budgetary allocations, retained income from forest revenues, grants from
Tanzania Government and development partners, and private financing. The Tanzania Commission for
Science and Technology (COSTECH) as one of the financing sources for Research and Development is
an apex body for the coordination, promotion, and popularization of Science and Technology in Tanzania.
COSTECH supports Research and Development activities through the National Fund for the Advancement
of Science and Technology (NFAST) in terms of grants and awards. The funding from the NFAST specifically
aims at: supporting research with special emphasis in the national priority areas; supporting development
and transfer of appropriate technologies; supporting capacity building in Research and Development
and Science and Technology Institution’s (STIs) activities; supporting organization of and/or attendance
to scientific fora and information dissemination through publications; promoting innovativeness and
inventiveness through the provision of awards; commissioning individuals, groups of individuals, institutions
or groups of institutions to undertake research or studies in special areas identified by the Commission; and
supporting any other activities whose objectives would be the promotion of STIs for national development.