#50MillionTrees: how young people are fighting deforestation in Tanzania - by Kennedy Daima Mmari
Tanzania is facing a
growing number of environmental concerns and biodiversity in the country is
under threat. Rapid deforestation
means more than 370,000 hectares of forest are cleared
every year for charcoal, firewood and lumber without a clear plan for
reforestation. Habitats are being lost and desertification has increased, with
severe consequences not only for wildlife but also the health and livelihoods
of farming communities living in rural parts of the country. More than three
quarters of Tanzania’s population live at subsistence level, relying on crop
growth and seasonal rainfall to survive. Agriculture accounts for a quarter of
the Tanzanian economy, but it is these farmers who suffer the real, dangerous
consequences of environmental degradation.
In late 2016, a
group of us decided to take on the issue with the #50MillionTrees campaign,
which aimed to encourage local people to reverse the loss of their
natural environment.
We want to encourage
the idea that everyone can make a difference when it comes to climate change
We realised that if
every one of the 50 million people living in Tanzania could be inspired to take
a single action, like planting just one tree, we would gain far more than just
50 million more trees. As well as raising awareness about environmental issues,
we could promote sustainability and encourage the idea that everyone can make a
difference when it comes to climate change. What #50MillionTrees is trying to
show is how individual actions and small changes in behaviour can make a big
difference, both in a single country and globally. The idea is to inspire,
educate and mobilise the population of Tanzania... read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2017/jun/05/50milliontrees-fighting-deforestation-sustainable-development-world-environment-day-tanzania