"Protecting the environment for all"

Highlights: In the run-up to World Environment Day, the U.S. government is encouraging people to plant more trees. The U.N. has called on people to protect the environment by planting trees in their backyards. The number of trees planted in the United States has increased by more than 50 per cent in the past three years, according to a recent study. The increase is due to the increase in the number of people living in rural areas, which has led to a decrease in the amount of water available.

In the run-up to World Environment Day, the NGO 'Environment is Life' (ENLIFE) planted 1200 grasses in the Kibwegere area of Dar es Salaam to prevent erosion and environmental damage. Participating in the event, the Environment Ambassador from the Office of the Vice President of the Union and Environment, Godfrey Mwimanzi said the matter of taking care of

In the run-up to World Environment Day, the NGO 'Environment is Life' (ENLIFE) planted 1200 grasses in the Kibwegere area of Dar es Salaam to prevent erosion and environmental damage.

Participating in the event, the Environment Ambassador from the Office of the Vice President of the Union and Environment, Godfrey Mwimanzi, said that environmental protection should be taken into account by all people.

"We should all take care of the environment because in the event of climate change, the victims are all people, regardless of religious, ethnic or racial beliefs," Mwimanzi said.

He said it was good for everyone wherever they are to take care of the environment and be an ambassador for planting trees so that the world is a safe place to live.

Mwimanzi said that due to environmental degradation, the country has had droughts that have caused food prices to rise so he urged Tanzanians to protect the environment by planting trees and not cutting down trees.

"Paroko has spoken of being sorry when he goes through the road he sees motorcycles loaded with sacks of charcoal, meaning our trees are burning. The trees are crying even though they don't speak," said Mwimanzi, adding:

"Today ENLIFE have come to plant grass and trees to prevent mudslides as well as the impact of water sources."

The parish priest of St. Theresia of Avila Kibwegere, the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Father Evodius Nachenga said more environmental education should be provided, so that every Tanzanian can see the value of planting trees including protecting the environment.

Paroko called on the government to allocate nurseries to the cutters, to plant trees and take care of them for the trade, as doing so could reduce environmental damage and protect water sources.

"I'm so hurt when I come across motorcycles carrying the trunk because the tree is dead. It is good to have a mechanism for people to plant trees to maintain them and ultimately to be used for their own benefit and for the nation as a whole," Paroko Nachenga said.

ENLIFE Tanzania Coordinator Gerald Muunga said they have officially introduced a 'vetiver' grass that has the ability to store water and soil to improve water and control pollution and reduce the severity of disasters.

"This technology is used on many continents around the world, including Tanzania at the very least. So we have decided to revive it by designing this project, after seeing the situation worsening bridges, graves, being eroded, riverbanks and roads are collapsing, fertility on the land is being lost," Muunga said.

He said ENLIFE will continue to provide education alongside grass-roots planting in support of environmental protection and the theme of tusoma and Muunga said they are now very involved in children from kindergarten and primary school.

"Our theme this year is Tree for Every Child to Plant a Tree is a symbol of hope for the future and children need to have hope now and more and forever," Muunga said.

ENLIFE has partnered with local government, Kibwegere Street and the Catholic Church in Kibwegere parish.

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"Protecting the environment for all"