Establishing tree nurseries
Planting trees for a green future
The importance
of trees for Kilimanjaro Region can hardly be underestimated. Trees serve as water
catchment protection, have medicinal value, provide fuel woods, offer fruits and
can be used as wind breakers, biological fencing or fodders for animals. The ongoing deforestation leads to land
degradation, drying out of spring water and severe soil erosion. But as the
rural poor communities depend on collecting firewood for sale or on cutting
down trees for burning charcoal, there has been a notable increase of deforestation
in Kilimanjaro Region.
With the establishment of tree nurseries, KIHO wants to make sure to make Kilimanjaro Region green. The organization is deeply committed to promote tree planting among the local communities. And tree nurseries are the perfect tool because it is a sustainable method to plant trees on a continuous basis.
KIHO tackles poverty and the destruction of the environment from two sides:
- the cultivation of tree seedlings creates a source of income to community initiatives, especially for women groups. The selling of practice of cutting down trees in order to earn money through charcoal-making will not be necessary any longer ;
- the tree nurseries will help to make a turn-around of environmental destruction and loss of bio-diversity and finally increase the number of trees in our region.
KIHO supports local community initiatives to plant fruit trees, timber trees, watershed management trees, indigenous trees as well as vegetable seedlings for a higher yield.
Successes:
Our aim:
We aim to establish at least one tree nursery in each village and each primary school in Kilimanjaro Region. In fact, to every village we visit our plan is One further step will be the use of the nurseries for the production of vegetables and fruit seedlings to help creating quick income and returns to the tree nursery attendants. Also, we hand out plastic gallons so that the students can easily cater their tree with water.
With the establishment of tree nurseries, KIHO wants to make sure to make Kilimanjaro Region green. The organization is deeply committed to promote tree planting among the local communities. And tree nurseries are the perfect tool because it is a sustainable method to plant trees on a continuous basis.
KIHO tackles poverty and the destruction of the environment from two sides:
- the cultivation of tree seedlings creates a source of income to community initiatives, especially for women groups. The selling of practice of cutting down trees in order to earn money through charcoal-making will not be necessary any longer ;
- the tree nurseries will help to make a turn-around of environmental destruction and loss of bio-diversity and finally increase the number of trees in our region.
KIHO supports local community initiatives to plant fruit trees, timber trees, watershed management trees, indigenous trees as well as vegetable seedlings for a higher yield.
Successes:
- KIHO established six tree nurseries in different villages in Same District (Bangalala, Dido, Minyala, Tae as well as in Same town), providing seeds, working tools and training. In two of this villages (Bangalala and Dido) also a water reservoir was provided so that the tree nursery has access to water
- Facilitation of training to community initiative groups in four villages: two in Same District (Mhero and Njoro) and two in Mwanga District (Kirongaya and Kisanyara Juu)
- Furthermore, we involved ten primary schools and five secondary schools where each school student received her or his own tree. In addition, they received a water gallon so that they can also water the tree on a regular basis
- In order to spread the project, the existing nurseries are used as a model to teach especially women and youth groups in environmental protection and the practice of tree planting
Our aim:
We aim to establish at least one tree nursery in each village and each primary school in Kilimanjaro Region. In fact, to every village we visit our plan is One further step will be the use of the nurseries for the production of vegetables and fruit seedlings to help creating quick income and returns to the tree nursery attendants. Also, we hand out plastic gallons so that the students can easily cater their tree with water.
