KILIMANJARO: ENVIRONMENTAL stakeholders have been urged to ensure that planted trees survive and mature to strengthen environmental conservation and help address climate change.
The call was made on Monday by a Goodwill Environmental Ambassador from the Vice-President’s Office, Nestory Mushi, during the October Members’ Birthday Tree Planting event held at Kilimanjaro Girls Secondary School in Siha District, Kilimanjaro Region.
The annual initiative brings together people born in October and other environmental conservation stakeholders to plant trees and promote sustainable environmental protection.
Mr Mushi, who is also the founder and director of the Kilimanjaro Environmental Preservation (KEP) institution, said tree planting alone was not enough unless the trees received proper care and survived to maturity.
He said healthy trees and forests played a vital role in protecting water sources, preventing soil erosion, supporting wildlife and strengthening local communities.
“Surviving trees protect the country’s water supplies, prevent soil erosion, support unique wildlife and strengthen local communities,” he said.
He added that forests acted as natural sponges by absorbing rainfall, replenishing underground water reserves and reducing surface runoff that could cause flooding.
Mr Mushi said forests also helped sustain rivers and improve agricultural reliability, particularly in areas dependent on irrigation.
He said involving students in the annual initiative was intended to raise environmental awareness among young people and promote a lasting culture of conservation.
“Environmental education can greatly improve students’ attitudes towards nature. Educating the younger generation will help the country achieve sustainable development by balancing the economy, resources and the ecological environment,” he said.
Mr Mushi commended Kilimanjaro Girls Secondary School for maintaining trees planted during previous campaigns, noting that about 90 per cent had survived.
The school’s Headmistress, Mariana Msangi, said environmental education and conservation were among the institution’s key priorities.
She said the school offered specialised environmental education in support of national efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.
Ms Msangi said the school’s approach was guided by its vision, “Environment is Life, and Life is Environment,” and its goal of “Taking Responsibility to Green Tanzania”.
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She noted that the government continued to emphasise environmental quality as an important component of sustainable development, adding that education was essential in raising public awareness and encouraging responsible environmental practices.
She said the school integrated ecological and environmental education into its programmes to shape students’ attitudes towards nature and complement government conservation initiatives.
Ms Msangi thanked KEP and the Kilimanjaro Regional Administration for supporting the school’s conservation efforts, saying the assistance encouraged the institution to plant more trees and expand its environmental activities.