GGML Supports regional efforts to Plant Trees in Mbogwe Council
As the country commemorates the National Tree Planting Day on the 1st of April 2023, Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) has pledged to maintain its commitment of protecting and conserving the natural vegetation in its special mining license. The Geita Forest reserve forms part of the GGML Special Mining License.
The national day is also used to remind communities and stakeholders on the importance of trees and forest conservation. This year’s theme on the National Tree Planting Day is “Tanzania is Green, No Trees, No Life.”
Communicating the company’s message during the regional commemorations of the day at Mbogwe District Council in Geita region, GGML’s Senior Officer Community Relations, Musa Shunashu said sustainability was amongst the newly launched Company values in which respecting the environment was a key component.
“Ethically, we are obliged to conduct our business with high consideration to the environment and the community which are key elements of our biodiversity. We have been running several afforestation programs to restore the environment in which we undertake our mining activities.
“In the 2022/23 rainy season, GGML has planted a total of 168,500 trees as part of the restoration programme. It should be noted that over 76 percent of our Special Mining License lays within the Geita Forest Reserve, therefore planting trees to restore nature, is of crucial importance,” he said.
He added that during this year’s commemoration, Geita Gold Mining Limited decided to distribute 14,000 tree seedlings to its employees and contractors in order to support government initiatives to plant many trees.
“This year we are using the rainy season as an opportune time to plant trees and we have distributed seedlings to our employees and contractors,” said Shunashu.
Officiating the tree planting event at Kashelo in Mbogwe District Council, the Geita Regional Commissioner Hon. Martin Shigella commended GGML, the Tanzania Forest Reserve and other stakeholders for being good ambassadors of respecting the environment.
“We launched the special program to plant tree as per President Samia Suluh Hassan directives last year that each council should plant at least 1.5 Million trees.We delighted that in collaboration with our key partners like GGML, our region has reached 33% of the target,” he said.
Last year alone, GGML planted more than 3,500 trees and distributed 7,000 varieties of fruits seedlings in Geita town. During the 4th International Minerals and Mining Investment Conference in February 2022, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania recognized GGML as the First Place Runner-Up among Special Mining License Holders in terms of Compliance with Applicable Laws relating to Environmental and Safety Issues.
