Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) Agency has announced plans to sell more than 6,400 cubic metres of standing teak trees through an electronic auction next month, in a move aimed at streamlining timber trade and enhancing transparency in forest resource management.

The auction, which will be conducted under the Forest Regulations of 2004, will see buyers compete online for plots of standing teak trees at two government-managed forest plantations — Longuza in Muheza District, Tanga Region, and Mtibwa in Turiani, Morogoro Region.

According to a public notice issued by the Conservation Commissioner, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, a total of 1,757.36 cubic metres of teak trees will be sold from Longuza Forest Plantation, while another 4,722.95 cubic metres will be harvested from Mtibwa Forest Plantation.

The sales are scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 17, 2025, for Longuza and Friday, July 18, 2025, for Mtibwa, with each auction session running from 8:00 a.m. to 11:04 a.m.

Transparent online platform

Prospective bidders are required to register in advance through TFS’s dedicated electronic auction portal at http://mis.tfs.go.tz/e-auction. Registration closes at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15.

Prof. Silayo said the decision to use an online system is part of ongoing efforts to modernise the agency’s forest product sales and curb illegal logging and resource underpricing.

“All participants must confirm their registration at least five minutes before the auction begins, and confirmation attempts during the live auction will not be accepted,” the notice reads in part.

Site inspections encouraged

To ensure transparency, TFS has invited interested buyers to inspect the plots during working hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding public holidays) until July 15. The respective plantation conservators will be available to provide details on plot conditions and harvesting requirements.

The timber lots are being sold on an “as is where is” basis, meaning buyers are responsible for harvesting and clearing awarded trees within 60 days after full payment.

Payment conditions

Under the sale conditions, successful bidders must pay at least 25 percent of the total purchase value within three working days of the auction date. The remaining balance must be settled within 14 days. TFS emphasized that all payments must go through the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG) and that exporting logs is strictly prohibited under existing forest regulations.

“Failure to meet payment deadlines may lead to forfeiture of deposits, and buyers must submit proof of payment to the respective plantation conservators within three days,” the notice says.

Plots and floor prices

The auction will feature several plots with specified floor prices per cubic metre. For example, at Longuza, floor prices range between TZS 270,000 and TZS 850,000 per cubic metre depending on the plot, while Mtibwa plots will start from as low as TZS 250,000 per cubic metre.

Each lot will appear for bidding for one hour, with a two-minute break between sales. Details of the plots, including volumes and prices, have been made available on the TFS website www.tfs.go.tz.

The agency has also provided helpline contacts for registration assistance: +255 713 335 926 and +255 766 857 062.

Strengthening sustainable forest management

The TFS manages forest resources across the country with a mandate to promote sustainable harvesting practices, reforestation, and conservation. Auctions like these have become critical in ensuring the country’s forest resources contribute to economic growth while safeguarding the environment.

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