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 Govt calls for community cleanliness, tree planting campaigns in Tanga

MINISTER of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Dr Ashatu Kijaji has called upon Tanga residents to prioritise cleanliness in their communities and actively participate in tree planting as part of environmental conservation efforts.
Tree planting

TANGA: MINISTER of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Dr Ashatu Kijaji has called upon Tanga residents to prioritise cleanliness in their communities and actively participate in tree planting as part of environmental conservation efforts.

Dr Kijaji said the move should begin with students, each of whom should plant and care for a tree until they complete school, while parents and guardians are also expected to set a positive example for their children in environmental protection.

The minister was speaking recently during her working tour of Tanga, where she also laid foundation stones for various development projects, including holding public meetings with local residents.

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‘I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that the right way to protect ourselves is by protecting our environment. If we don’t, the consequences will be severe for us and the future generations,” said Dr Kijaji.

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She added: “We must care for the environment by planting trees and especially mangroves, which are highly effective in preventing soil erosion along the coast. Let’s reduce activities that harm the environment.”

On her part, Tanga Regional Commissioner, Dr Batilda Burian said that the region has approximately 735,903 hectares of forests, including national government forests, council reserve forests, village reserve forests and forests owned by various institutions and private individuals.

She said that the region also hosts three government-owned tree plantations: Shume Plantation (4,863 hectares), Longuza Plantation (7,067 hectares) and Korogwe Fuel Plantation (10,850 hectares).

Dr Burian explained the challenges that face forest sector in the region as livestock grazing, fires, shifting agriculture, charcoal production within reserve forests and unsustainable harvesting practices.

“We are grateful to the Vice President’s Office for facilitating the construction of a 960-metre seawall in Pangani District and I would like to take this opportunity to request further assistance to complete the remaining section,” she said.