By Bisola Adeyemo
Tanzania government disclosed a plan on planting a total of 276 million trees in all the 139 councils in the country to prevent climate change.
Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Seleman Jafo who disclosed this on Monday also gave a directive that all students in the countrywide plant a tree each, as a part of their contribution to help confront the effects of climate change.
The directives came during his visit to Tanga to inspect and promote various environmental conservation activities, Daily News said.
The minister said “If every student strives to plant a tree, kindergarten, primary and secondary students plant one tree and manage it for the whole year, this will be our savior in facing these environmental challenges,” the Minister said.
In addition, the minister said the level of deforestation has resulted in partial rains and rising temperatures.
Mr Jafo stressed the importance of training school children in the culture of tree planting in order to have a generation that loves and watches over their environment.
A renowned arborist has raised alarm on the cutting of trees, warning that unprecedented deforestation might lead to desertification and loss of habitat for animals in the country.
The official with the conservation charity noted that when trees are cut down, much of that stored carbon is released into the atmosphere again as Carbon Dioxide.
“Much as we depend on wood fuel, we shouldn’t overlook on the effects that come with cutting of trees for human survival,” observed Mr Lowney.
He equally urged individuals engaged in the selling of firewood to opt for other business ventures with a view of saving Mother Nature.