Aga Khan marks Environment Day by planting 15,000 trees

Bagamoyo. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) yesterday planted 15,000 mangrove trees as it ups its role in addressing climate change and its global effects.

The tree planting was part of this year’s World Environment Day celebrations.

Mangroves are touted as trees of great importance in the preservation of the ecology of the sea but the activities carried out by people have affected a large part of the vegetation, which affects fish spawning and the decrease of the seashore.

AKF Tanzania project coordinator, Japhet Wangwe, despite planting the trees, the foundation will continue to cooperate with government authorities and the community to protect nature.

"We have decided to celebrate this Environment Day by doing something that will have a positive impact on our environment for a long time. Our institution is more focused on reducing poverty among the people but fighting the changes in the country because they bring negative economic effects among the people, thus increasing the poverty situation," said Wangwe.

Mr Ali Chaligha, a forestry officer, said the Forestry Agency (TFS) was making deliberate efforts in collaboration with many stakeholders to restore nature as well as protect the environment.

"In addition to planting trees, we have many conservation strategies, including putting up prohibition signs to prevent people from destroying conservation area, providing education, and conducting patrols to control illegal harvesters," said Chaligha.

He said the Bagamoyo mangrove forest reserve is 100 kilometers long (from Mapinga to Saadan), and despite the patrols they do and other methods they use to control the illegal harvesting of the trees, they are still being destroyed in large numbers.

Kisutu Ward Environment Statistics and Information Committee member, Mr Seif Ramadhan Seif said destruction of mangrove trees has decreased in the past ten years due to the efforts made by the government and civil institutions.

"For example, where we are (Nunge), it is not used for rice cultivation, cassava cultivation, or animal husbandry, so I think it is good for the government to ban people from interrupting this area so that whoever is found is known as a vandal," advised Seif, who is in the beach protection group.

He said fighting those who destroy mangroves was dangerous and not something that can be done by everyone.

“The destroyers carry traditional weapons, and if you want to drive them away, they can attack you, so the forest protection agencies should strengthen their patrols,” he appealed. On May 19 this year, AKF launched its campaign to restore nature, aiming to plant 1.5 million mangrove trees on the coast of the Indian Ocean.