For every child a tree

Zimbabwe’s Tree of the Year for 2012 is the beautiful indigenous Red Mahogany. The Forestry Commission says more than 330 000 hectares of forest are being lost each year, primarily as a result of uncontrolled fires, agriculture, urban encroachment and for many Zimbabweans, wood is their only energy source.

RoTree campaign

Environment Africa, a local Environment Africa, a local NGO, has been actively involved in tree planting projects since 1990. In 2002, Charlene Hewat, CEO of Environment Africa and an active Rotarian, launched a campaign with Nelson Mandela called the RoTree campaign. It was launched in Malawi with the aim of planting one million trees in Southern Africa in one year and this was achieved with the millionth tree being planted in Victoria Falls by the Rotary District Governor, Chris Molam.

Last week, Environment Africa launched its 2012 tree campaign, ‘For Every Child A Tree’ and it is hoped that this campaign will spread across our borders in the coming years. ‘For Every Child A Tree’ is encouraging individuals, families, communities, business, organisations and schools to get out there and plant trees.

“Every one of us is a child of the planet, imagine the impact if each one of us planted a tree in our name,” said Hewat.

Pure Earth Trees

Environment Africa also announced the campaign Goodwill Ambassador, Wayne Black. Wayne, born and raised in Zimbabwe, is better known for his tennis career, having won two men’s doubles Grand Slam titles with compatriot Kevin Ullyett and two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles with his sister Cara.

His life long passion for the environment and trees in particular, strengthened when he retired from the professional circuit and in addition to coaching tennis to youngsters, he now runs an indigenous tree nursery in Mandara called Pure Earth Trees. Wayne donated 500 indigenous trees to the campaign and is hoping that all Zimbabweans will get out there and plant trees.

‘For Every Child A Tree’ campaign is part of the NTPD and is supported by the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe. Environment Africa will be officially participating on Saturday 1st December by planting trees at the University of Zimbabwe. This event is being coordinated with the Rotaract Club of the UZ.