Zimbabwe marks Tree Planting Day

05 Dec, 2021 - 00:12 0 Views
Zimbabwe marks Tree Planting Day Inspector Abednico Ncube

The Sunday News

Sunday News Reporters
THE country yesterday marked the National Tree Planting Day with various activities in provinces with officials calling on the nation to conserve and protect forest resources that support the ecosystem.

In Bulawayo, the event, which was led by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Judith Moyo was held at Lotshe Primary School in Makokoba.

Cde Ncube read President Mnangagwa’s speech where he reiterated the need to safeguard and replenish the country’s natural environment in order to combat climate change.

The National Tree Planting Day is held annually on the first Saturday of December.

This year, celebrations were held under the theme “Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihoods”.

Monkey bread or ihabahaba in IsiNdebele was chosen as the tree of the year.

In Matabeleland South, the event was held at Esigodini Agricultural College, where Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Abednego Ncube called for the need to identify and acknowledge the role of trees and forests in reclaiming degraded landscapes.

“Unfortunately, due to over exploitation Matabeleland South Province is losing more than 5 000 hectares of forest land to deforestation each year.

The major drivers of deforestation are clearing land for agriculture, settlement expansion, firewood harvesting, mining activities, veld fires and illegal logging activities,” he said.

In Matabeleland North the event was held at Buhlebuzile Irrigation Scheme in Inyathi where the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Richard Moyo implored the local leadership to be environmental stewards.

“Today as I launch the 2021-2022 tree planting season, I would like to urge the community leadership — the chiefs, headmen, village heads, councillors and all political leaders to demonstrate environmental stewardship and ensure that their local areas are re-forested while the natural forests are conserved,” said Minister Moyo.

In Victoria Falls, a non-governmental organisation, Friends of the Environment held a provincial walkathon for Matabeleland North, with various stakeholder and members of the public walking from Victoria Falls Airport to Ndlovu Secondary School, about 30km away where trees were planted.

FOTE is not-for-profit making organisation of environmentally like-minded individuals and corporate entities championing the re-greening of Zimbabwe through tree planting.

The FOTE initiative was pioneered by Nyaradzo Group in 2010 when they started planting a tree at every burial they undertook countrywide.

The goal is to address restoration of ecosystems and the main objective is to plant 500 million trees by year 2026.

Tourism executive Mr Clement Mukwasi who is also Shearwater Adventures public relations manager was guest of honour at the event and read a speech presented by President Mnangagwa when he launched the 2021 National Tree Planting Day.

FOTE representative Ms Eddah Chimbwanda who is Nyaradzo Victoria Falls branch manager said the initiative was established to infuse a sense of stewardship within communities, and a demonstration of environmental appreciation that will definitely reach out to millions of people nationwide and beyond.

“The trees we are gathered here to plant is testimony of the Friends Of The Environment’s goal to champion the country’s re-greening initiative through tree planting.

FOTE and its partners intend to create tree planting awareness and conservation through initiatives such as encouraging rural communities to desist from indiscriminate tree cutting and for commercial gain.

“Walkathons are our main trump card for raising awareness and encouraging different communities to join the tree planting campaign.

To date we have held 11 different walkathons since 2010 with over 35 million trees planted,” said Ms Chimbwanda.

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