Vodacom steers reforestation effort in Moshi

DAR ES SALAAM: VODACOM Tanzania, through its Twende Butiama initiative, has planted 49,000 trees in Kahe Forest, Moshi District, as part of a broader effort to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability.

This large-scale reforestation project is designed not only to restore forest cover but also to enhance carbon sequestration, improve water retention and support local agriculture through the regeneration of healthier soils.

“Twende Butiama is more than a cycling journey, it’s a movement rooted in heritage, purpose and responsibility,” said Zuweina Farah, Director of External Affairs at Vodacom Tanzania.

She added, “Safeguarding Tanzania’s natural treasure is inseparable from building a sustainable future. Through the Restoring Kilimanjaro partnership, we are investing in both the environment and the communities whose lives depend on it.” On the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Kahe communities have long relied on the mountain’s forests and rivers for farming, water and daily sustenance.

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These natural resources are vital to both their livelihoods and the region’s ecological balance.

However, years of deforestation driven by logging, changing rainfall patterns and expanding agriculture have severely degraded the ecosystem, leading to soil erosion, reduced water retention and loss of biodiversity, threatening both the environment and local resilience.

Partnerships like Twende Butiama underscore the vital role of corporate social responsibility in tackling climate change, ecosystem degradation, and rural livelihood challenges.

The success of reforestation efforts in Kahe depends on sustained community engagement, adaptive management, and the integration of local knowledge with scientific practices.