Dar es Salaam. The government, in partnership with environmental stakeholders, has launched a campaign to plant over 1.8 billion trees in the northern regions of the country, including the area surrounding Mount Kilimanjaro, aiming to combat the effects of climate change.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dunstan Kitandula, made this announcement yesterday in Parliament, Dodoma, while responding to a question from Professor Patrick Ndakidemi, the Member of Parliament for Moshi Rural, who sought clarification on the government’s short-term strategy to preserve the snow on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kitandula explained that the initiative is part of a short-term strategy designed to address the significant loss of snow on the mountain.
He attributed the decline in snow levels primarily to rising global temperatures, which is a consequence of climate change.
He emphasized that human activities such as deforestation, agriculture, and burning in the areas surrounding the mountain, along with low rainfall, recurring droughts, and dry winds from the Indian Ocean, significantly contribute to this environmental challenge.
Deputy Minister Kitandula outlined further governmental strategies to tackle this issue, which include public education campaigns on the importance of tree planting and environmental conservation through media outlets.
He stated that by collaborating with regional and international organizations, they aim to empower communities to address climate change.
This includes efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore ecosystems in the areas surrounding Mount Kilimanjaro.