DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's forest watchdog on Wednesday announced plans aimed at saving forests from further degradation by introducing beekeeping and discouraging unscrupulous felling of trees for making charcoal.

Dos Santos Silayo, executive officer of the Tanzania Forest Services, said the agency was inviting all those who currently depended on charcoal production for their livelihoods to use forests under its protection and other public woodlands for beekeeping free of charge in an effort to save trees from charcoal makers.

Silayo said the European Union (EU) has agreed to fund a major project starting later this year which will involve the roll-out of modern beehives for beekeeping, collection points in strategic honey-producing regions as well as marketing for local consumption and export regionally and internationally.

The official said Tanzanian honey has already been tested and approved for export in the EU, the United States and Asia.

Silayo said the project was set to revolutionize the honey sub-sector which currently produces just 55,000 tonnes per year, far below its potential of 135,000 tonnes.

"We hope that increased beekeeping activities in the public forests and woodlands will create a sense of ownership among keepers and tremendously decrease, and finally end logging for charcoal." Silayo said. Enditem