Historical Background

Our history dates back to 1889 when the forest administration began in Tanzania. This administration began as a local forest bureau called Forstverwaltung and it was situated at Usimbe, Muhoro near Rufiji Delta under the German administration. In 1902, it wasmoved to Dar es Salaam. The British Government took over the administration after the First World War between 1914 and 1918 until when Tanganyika got its independence. 

The beekeeping administration began around 1949 when the beekeeping sector operated as an informal sector.  Between 1949 and 1971, the Ministry of Agriculture later on adopted beekeeping as one of the departments whereas it held the responsibility to improve the production of agricultural and bee products. 

In 1971, beekeeping began operating as a section under the Ministry of Natural Resources until 1977. In the same year, bees started to be considered as part of wildlife and this led the beekeeping section to be transferred to the wildlife department. Between 1980 and 1984, this section operated as a full department. In 1984, the beekeeping department was combined with the forestry department to form the Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD) due to the government’s exercise in restructuring and cost reduction.

The government formed the Public Service Reform Programme (PSRP) in 2000 whose goal was to improve efficiency in public delivery and regulatory functions. This programme paved the way for the establishment of the Tanzania Tree Seed Agency (TTSA) and TFS whereas TTSA was established to produce, procure and supply high-quality tree seed and other propagating materials. On the other hand, TFS was developed to take over operational functions in the management and conservation of forest and bee resources that were formerly performed by the Forest and Beekeeping Division.

In 2018, the Government transferred the function of the former TTSA to TFS to reduce management costs. A year later, the management responsibility of six Antiquities stations was transferred to TFS. These stations include Kondoa Rock Art Paintings - Kolo, Dodoma region; Old Afya Building and Mud Roof House of Dr. Livingstone Kwihara, Tabora region; Tongoni Ruins, Tanga region; Kaole Ruins and Bagamoyo historical town, Coastal region.