‘Tree planting key to unlocking carbon trade benefits’

KILIMANJARO: TANZANIANS have been urged to embrace opportunities arising from carbon trading by planting trees in large numbers, a move that will improve their economic well-being.

The call was made over the weekend by the Director of the Kilimanjaro Consortium for Development and Environment (KCDE), Mr Aidan Msafiri, while distributing tree seedlings to environmental stakeholders as part of his birthday celebrations.

“Carbon trading, apart from playing a major role in reducing carbon emissions, also presents a great opportunity for institutions and individuals to strengthen their economic position. This can be achieved through planting trees in large numbers,” he said.

He added that the carbon trading market supports sustainable industries by redistributing funds from heavily polluting companies to green energy and sustainability-driven projects.

“We can also be major beneficiaries of this opportunity, as funds from carbon trade programmes will help us improve environmental activities and implement other development projects,” he noted.

Commenting on the treeplanting initiative, Prof Msafiri said he has marked his birthday on March 28 for several years by planting and distributing trees.

“I chose this approach because lighting candles contributes to environmental pollution. Instead, I plant trees and distribute seedlings to others to plant in their respective areas so that we can improve air quality and the surrounding environment,” he explained.

He said that this year he plans to distribute 10,000 trees to religious and educational institutions, as well as individuals across the Kilimanjaro Region, in line with KCDE’s “Make Kilimanjaro Green” slogan.

ALSO READ: Why carbon trade matters to conservation

Prof Msafiri also urged parents, guardians and teachers to instill environmental awareness in children by teaching them the importance of conserving the environment through tree planting and proper care.

“We enjoy clean air and shade today because someone planted these trees in the past. Let us pass on this habit to our children so they can inherit a better environment in the future,” he said.

More than 200 children participated in the event, which coincided with the distribution of tree seedlings.

“Their participation will instill a sense of environmental responsibility at a young age and help make conservation efforts sustainable,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Reverand Andrew Munisi from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) commended Prof Msafiri for incorporating environmental conservation into his birthday celebrations.

“This has taught us that we can use birthdays and institutional anniversaries to plant trees,” he said.

“By doing so, we not only celebrate important milestones but also contribute to environmental conservation. This is a very good example to follow.”