25,000 Trees Planted in Zimbabwe
As a response to deforestation, Humana People to People planted 25,000 eucalyptus and moringa trees in more than 100 villages in Zimbabwe between Christmas and the New Year 2011.
The idea of the tree planting action was to build awareness in the local communities of Shamva district on environmental conservation, global warming and encourage people to think globally and act locally. Humana People to People used the festive season to plant trees with the local community in their villages.
The village headmen, 4 local ward councillors and Zimbabwe Forestry Commission officials joined hands in the demonstrations of tree planting and the distribution of trees to each household. The government of Zimbabwe supported the event by providing tree planting educational materials, and national television and daily newspapers reported the official opening of the event.
Protection of forests is a huge challenge in Zimbabwe’s rural areas where the survival of the basically agro-based livelihood is highly linked to the environment with trees being central to the rural life. Firewood for cooking, timber for house construction, clearance of new fields on arable land and the curing of tobacco form the major threats associated with tree conservation in Shamva District.
Planet Aid UK donated £10,000 pounds to the action, which covered the establishment of the tree nursery, procurement of the plastic sachets, seedlings, logistics and other costs associated with the tree planting. Humana People to People extends its gratitude to the people of the United Kingdom for their contributions to a better environment, in England where second hand clothes are donated and in Zimbabwe where the 25,000 trees were planted.
11 schools each planted 500 trees. Some created woodlots and others made a hedge around the school. The school-going children were the prime participants in the planting of the trees, an event that also included a quiz on environmental protection and the benefits of trees with school materials as prizes. People appreciate the new knowledge about global warming and the role they can play by planting trees.
To see more pictures of the tree-planting action in Zimbabwe please visit our Photo Gallery
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