Dodoma - The Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Prof. Jumanne Abdallah Maghembe tabled a proposal in the National Assembly here yesterday in which he sought the status of Mkomazi Game Reserve elevated to national park and Ruaha Conservation Forests promoted to game reserve.

Prof. Maghembe said Mkomazi and Umba forests were earmarked as conservation areas in yesteryears in order to protect the rare wildlife species that were in danger of extinction. The minister now sought the consent of Parliament to promote the two forests to National Parks.

He said by raising the status of Mkomazi Conservation Forests, which have an area of 3,245 square kilometers, Tanzania would stand to benefit from increased tourism receipts in the near future. Ruaha Game Reserve, he said, should be expanded from 10,300 to 20,226 square kilometers.

The expansion, he said, will see Ruaha and Usangu Conservation Forests (1,148 square kilemetres) become one national park that would cover 5,778 square kilometers. The expansion would make the new national park the largest in Africa.

When speaking on behalf of the Parliamentary Committee for Natural Resources and Environment, Mr James Lembeli praised the minister for seeking to conserve Usangu Valley with a view to protecting water sources that empt into River Ruaha.

The move, he said, would also increase the volume of water in River Ruaha and ensure all-year round generation of electricity at Mtera and Kidatu dams. He advised the state to recruit more game wardens who would fight poachers, wildfires and invasion by cattle keepers more vigorously.

The committee called upon the government to protect and elevate the status of all forest reserves, games reserves, marine reserves and national parks so that they earn the nation more revenue from tourism.

The committee said residents who must be moved out of Ihefu Valley should be compensated fairly. It suggested that corporate tax for Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) be reduced to enable it to manage the expanded forest reserves. Discussions continued yesterday evening.

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