You might not think that there is a problem with trees or forests in a country where two-thirds of the land is considered forest. The situation is not black and white when money is tight, and most people rely on agriculture, with heating generally done by wood or charcoal. For most people, agriculture might be the only way to get at least some money, and farming will also provide nutrition for the farmer’s family.
When it comes to heating, charcoal is the cheapest way and, in many cases, the only way to get heat. It is also the traditional way of cooking. Mamas don’t know other ways. Gas is expensive, and in some areas, there are no power lines. Even where they are present, there are frequent power cuts, making the use of electric stoves unreliable.
With education, people come to understand that, in the long run, it can be destructive to the environment and contribute to desertification. Desertification means that the land is no longer suitable for farming, or it is hard to grow anything. It will also make grazing harder for animals. Planting trees in residential areas, such as Madale, reduces the amount of dust, prevents erosion, ties up carbon dioxide from the air, and also provides food one day.
Amy, one of our volunteers, helped John plant trees in the yard of Tumaini Nursery School in Madale village. Planting consisted of a variety of trees, such as passion fruit, mango, and Moringa. The first thing was to decide where to plant the trees. You might think it is easy because there is a lot of free land, but it is not so. Not any piece of land is suitable. Firstly, you need to consider the type of soil and determine if it is possible to dig a hole for the trees. Secondly, you check that water does not just run through and if there is any shade for the young trees. Different trees have different kinds of needs. The mango tree requires a lot of space to grow. Passion fruit is usually a plant that needs support to vine itself on another tree and prefers indirect sunlight, and Moringa is quite easygoing and demands little water.
Hopefully, the teachers and children will remember to water the trees during the dry season, so that later they can enjoy the fruits and shade provided by the trees. By: Tia Maria
