DAR ES SALAAM: PREPARATIONS for the eagerly awaited ‘The Kilimanjaro Walk’ to raise money for planting trees are in top gear.
The event organiser Nessa Foundation which is rallying behind the Save Mountain Kilimanjaro Campaign, unveiled that the walk is slated in early March this year expecting to attract around 500 people from across the country.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam, the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deborah Nyakisinda said the walk will commence at Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut located within the Africa’s highest mountain.
“They will cover distances of 3km, 5km, and 8km depending on their walking abilities…we aim to fundraise 2 billion shillings the funds to be utilised for planting 500,000 trees in the first year,” Nyakisinda disclosed.
She further pointed out that people can bring trees to have an opportunity to be part of the walk happening for the first time at the host town of the highest mountain in Africa, Moshi, Kilimanjaro.
“The value of one tree is 5,000/- and for the first year, we intend to plant 500,000 trees which will add up to approximately 2.0bn/- that is why we encourage people to contribute trees to meet the target of saving Mountain Kilimanjaro environment.
“There are specific tree species that need to be planted to implement this campaign’s goal and we are going to tell people about the type of trees they can contribute so that together, we can be able to preserve our beautiful mountain,” she said.
She added that each year, the event will witness the growing attention of many more stakeholders who will be joining hands to save Mount Kilimanjaro and that more details can be accessed through their website www.nessafoundation.or.tz.
“In the long run, the event is expected to contribute to the positive environmental, social, and economic development of the communities living around the mountain,” she said.
The Save Mountain Kilimanjaro Campaign is targeting to plant 10 million trees in five years around the mountain and its surrounding regions like Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara, Tanga and two more regions in Kenya.
