1.0 MANAGEMENT OF TAFORI
The management of TAFORI is headed by the Director General assisted by three Directors namely; Director of Forest Production Research, Director of Forest Utilization Research, Director of Finance & Administration and Centre Directors
Dr. Revocatus Petro – Director General
Dr. Revocatus Petro Mushumbusi is a Research Scientist with fifteen (15) years’ experience on forestry research particularly on Forest health. He has done a lot of researches on identifying sources of death of trees in different forest plantations. His current research interests includes identifying possible control methods of different insect pests affecting forest plantations and carrying out a comprehensive soil survey to determine status of soils in forest plantations for land suitability mapping. He has also experiences on forest utilization researches. He has published about 13 papers in local and international journals.
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Dr. Siima Bakengesa – Director of Forest Production Research
Dr. Siima Bakengesa is a Senior Research Officer with the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry (Hons) at the University of Sokoine (Tanzania) in 1997 and a Master of Science degree in Forestry specialising in Resource economics and accounting from the same university in 2001 and received a Convocation Prize.
She has 14 years professional experience in Forestry and related fields in Eastern Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda). Her research carrier has combined research, development and consulting work. Since 1997, she has been involved in landscape management through tree planting based on Agroforestry technologies in dry lands when she was contracted by the World Agroforestry Centre and later employed by TAFORI as researcher in 2001. She has got research experience in renewable energy, Agroforestry, species/provenances screening, propagation and domestication of both indigenous and exotic, Natural forest management, and adoption and dissemination interventions. She has published several journal articles, books, newsletter articles, technical notes and public speeches.
Through her administrative carrier, Ms. Bakengesa has served in administrative and leadership arena as follows: team leader for HASHI/ICRAF project whereby the project was upgraded to what is now known as NAFRAC. She also headed the Malya Lake Zone Afforestation Research Centre before joining the management team at the Headquarters whereby she is holding a position of Director of Forest Production Research Directorate. Ms. Bakengesa is the member of several national boards and for including the Tanzania Association of Foresters, Plant Protection Advisory Board and Tanzania Forest Health Forum.
Ms. Bakengesa is currently saving as a focal point for FAO Forest Genetic Resources and currently involved in strengthening the tree improvement strategy for Tanzania to ehnance private and public forests productivity for rural development and employment creation.
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Dr. Chelestino Balama – Acting Director of Forest Utilization Research
Dr. Chelestino Peter Balama is a Senior Research Scientist with the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI). He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry (Hons) at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania in 2003, and thereafter Master of Science degree in Forestry specializing in Wood Science and Utilization in the same university in 2009. In 2008 he was awarded a Certificate in Forest Certification from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. He was conferred a PhD degree majoring in Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and Climate Change Adaptation in the Tropics at Sokoine University of Agriculture in 2016.
He has fourteen (14) years professional experience in forestry research particularly on Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Science, Climate Change and Development. His current research interests include; Sustainable utilization of timber, wood based boards and NTFPs, and Valuation of forest resources. He has also good experience in forest certification and auditing. He has published over 17 scientific papers in both local and international journals.
Administratively, Dr. Chelestino serves as the Acting Director of the Directorate of Forest Utilization Research at TAFORI Headquarters, Morogoro since January 2017 to date. However, he has previously served on the same position as well as that of the Director General in several occasions when need arose.
On professional Boards; Dr. Chelestino is member to two Technical Committee Boards of the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) namely; Sawn Timber, Saw Logs and Wood Based Components Technical Committee (BCDC 6), and Timber Structure Technical Committee (BCDC 12).
Currently Dr. Chelestino serve as a country focal point for the Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA) which is involved in building capacity to communities to fully engage in gum and resins production, processing and trade.
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Mr. Kaisi Mwaikambo – Director of Finance and Administration
Joined the Management in 2008 as Director of Finance and Administration. Tanzanian with Msc in Accounts and Finance, B.Com (Accounting) and Certified Public Accountant (ACPA). Has over fifteen years in Management and Accounting, from Assistant Finance Manager with Income Ltd in Iringa, Principal Accountant with Dar Es Salaam Airport Handling Company (Now Swissport Ltd) and Senior Internal Auditor of Public Service Pension Fund before Joining TAFORI.
Has experience in Auditing, Finance and Administration in both Private and Public Service, from Agriculture, Airport Ground handling services, pension schemes and Natural resource Management.
Dr. John Richard Mbwambo – Centre Director of Lushoto Silvicluture Research Centre
Dr. John Richard Mbwambo has worked for Tanzania Forestry Research Institute as a researcher since 2004. His research aim to improve conservation of native ecosystems in the tropics. He headed the Lushoto Silviculture Research Centre from 2008 to 2011, and thereafter joined Sokoine University of Agriculture for PhD studies. His PhD research addresses the problem of anthropogenic disturbances on conservation of biodiversity hot-spot areas, particularly East Arc Mountains of Tanzania.
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Mr. Francis Faustine Laswai – Centre Director of Moshi Timber Utilization Research Centre
Mr Francis Faustine Laswai working with Tanzania Forestry Research Institute since 2006 with specialisation in Forest biology and Wood science. He has a BSc in forestry and MSc in Forestry of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Morogoro, Tanzania.
Mr F. Laswai worked at Moshi Timber Utilisation Research Centre as acting head of the centre for five years before joining the Management team at TAFORI head quarter Morogoro. He has an experience in Wood science.
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Dr. Nancy Eliad Pima – Centre Director of Kibaha Lowland Afforestation Research Centre
Dr. Nancy Eliad Pima is currently the Centre Director of Kibaha Lowland Afforestation Research Centre at Tanzania Forestry Research Institute. She has a BSc. in Forestry, MSc. in Forestry and PhD in Forestry from Sokoine University of Agriculture. Sh e has 15 peer reviewed scientific papers from National and international Journals. Dr. Nancy is a researcher mostly focusing on forest ecology, wood science and forest tree water use. She has been a Project Manager of Tanzania Tree Technology Project 2010 – 2014 and Board Member of Tanzania Tree Biotechnology Project 2010 – 2013, Handeni Trunk Main Water Supply and Sanitation Authority 2012 to 2015 under Ministry of Water and currently a board member of Tanzania Forestry Research Institute Tender Board.
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