Schools in Temeke to plant 100 trees each as part of District’s Climate Action Plan

DAR ES SALAAM: IN a bid effort to support government initiatives to combat climate change, the Temeke District Commissioner (DC), Mr Sixtus Mapunda, has directed all secondary schools in the district to ensure that each one plants 100 trees.

Additionally, the DC also encouraged primary schools to emphasise practical environmental education by ensuring that pupils plant trees that they will be accountable for caring for throughout their time at school.

DC’s directives come amid the fourth environmental report released this year indicates that Tanzania loses an average of 24,151 hectares of forest annually.

The primary drivers of this loss include human activities such as reliance on firewood and charcoal, unsustainable forest harvesting, unregulated livestock farming and unsustainable agricultural practices.

In line with this news the climate change is said to impact Tanzania’s economic growth, resulting in an annual loss of one percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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Mr Mapunda issued the directives yesterday while participating a tree-planting campaign at Madenge Primary School in Temeke District ,Dar es Salaam Region.

Approximately 200 trees were planted during this campaign, which was coordonated by Jubilee Insurance in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF).

“We must get to the point where we can utilize our available spaces (in schools) to plant trees in order to protect our environment,” Mr Mapunda asserted.

Coupled with this , he applauded the AKF and Jubilee Insurance Tanzania for supporting the government’s efforts in added climate change challenges.

Chief Executive Officer for Jubilee Insurance Tanzania ,Dr Harold Adamson said apart from doing best in insurance industry ,the company’s goal is to be champion in conserving environment by implementing small-scale tree-planting projects.

He added that these trees will not only help address climate change but will also improve the school environment.

The Country Director for AKF, Ms Atteeya Sumar, said the foudation has set the target to reduce carbon emmision to net zero by 2030 and planting 50 milion trees globally

“So far in the past two years , AKF in Tanzania has planted 125 micro-forest with millions of trees , most of these micro-forest are in schools in Lindi, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar,” she added.

For her part, the Head Teacher for Madenge Primary School, Mr Hadija Hussein said the planted trees would help the pupils to learn the the environmental conservation issues practically.