UAE partners Islamic Bureau in tree planting

THE United Arab Emirates Embassy in Harare, in conjunction with the Islamic Information Bureau, yesterday planted 600 trees in Goromonzi in an early tree planting ceremony.

It is part of efforts to complement Government efforts in reforestation and afforestation programmes to mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change, which have become a global problem.

Speaking after planting the trees, Islamic Information Bureau director Mr Adam Wadi said trees were an important component in enhancing the country’s biodiversity, health and food security.

He encouraged every citizen to plant a tree to help combat the effects that come with the absence of trees such as soil erosion. Deforestation was a major cause of climate change and reforestation was the only way to curb the scourge.

“We are proud once again to join the nation in planting trees,” he said. “As you may all know, the tree planting programme is a way to motivate the nation to plant, care and conserve trees so as to ensure the sustainable management and utilisation of our forestry.

“This is important in enhancing the country’s biodiversity, health and food security. So, as a way of allaying deforestation and saving the environment, every citizen of the land is encouraged to plant at least one tree to help combat these deadly blights to our environment.”

Mr Wadi reminded the people that “trees are life and without them, our existence will surely be in jeopardy”.

He regretted human activities that continue to see trees being cut for firewood and construction, unsustainably and without replacement, among others. Globally, upwards of 10 million hectares of forests are destroyed by human activities each year, hence the need to plant more trees.

But Mr Wadi said tree planting alone cannot be enough to reverse the loss of forests in developing countries where there is growing demand for firewood and timber.

“Zimbabwe has forged well ahead in substituting wood with other materials such as investment in renewable energy in order to reduce the impact on forests and as communities.

“We can also emulate such noble ideas and also come up with other local initiatives in order to save our dwindling forests,” said Mr Wadi.