Context

Kilimanjaro is one of four major highlands in North East Tanzania. The region benefits from higher rainfall and richer natural vegetation than the surrounding lowlands.  However, Kilimanjaro Region is also suffering from widespread deforestation as a consequence of high population densities & intensive agriculture.  The Tanzanian Development Gateway reported in 2011:

“Over 70% of land in Mt Kilimanjaro ecosystem is experiencing serious form of soil erosion of up to 40 tonnes per hectare of soil loss annually, while the soil is a direct source of livelihood to a population of over 1.6 million.”

Many of these problems can be seen in Rombo District on the eastern flanks of Kilimanjaro.  Some of the steep-sided hills around Mamsera show mass movement features, bare ground and eroded soil in places of good rainfall.  In the lower areas near Holili the combination of rapid deforestation and low, unreliable rains is threatening that locality with desertification.  Local community leaders are now planning the huge task of reafforestation, especially on the lower, drier grounds of the District.

This is a small valley near Ngoyoni Hospital in Mwenge parish. Notice that the seasonal stream is dry. On the right side of the stream bed is a slope with dry grass, thorn bush and many signs of soil erosion. On the left side is a productive slope where trees have been recently planted and agroforestry is practiced.

This locality is higher & has better rainfall than the valley in the last photo, but tree-felling on steep slopes of volcanic ash has resulted in a wasteland near Mamsera village.

To solve these environmental problems will require concerted action involving many aspects of development e.g. better environmental education, increased opportunities for non-agricultural employment, specific soil conservation measures.  However, a relatively simple way to start local communities working to improve their own environment is a tree-planting project.

Aims

SGG intends to promote tree-planting wherever possible within Rombo District.  Such tree-planting can include:

• quick-growing exotics [e.g. eucalyptus, grevillea] where the intention is to reduce soil erosion as well as provide a sustainable harvest & income of timber and fuelwood,
• fruit trees where fruit can be marketed or used to encourage improved child nutrition,
• indigenous species (e.g. mvule) which are well adapted to survive local conditions.

Such trees may be located in a variety of situations e.g.

• on established farms, often in hedges or to provide shade for coffee and other crops,
• on small patches of ground which are largely wasted at present, such as steep slopes near stream channels, school grounds, eroded ground etc,
• within lower Rombo District where past deforestation has encouraged soil erosion and further desiccation of the habitat.

Project Proposal

SGG has already worked with various partners in Rombo District and have successfully planted a few thousand trees, but this project is really only in its pilot stage.   We are now looking for potential partners so that we can scale up our project work in this locality.  We need both sponsors from the Industrialised Economies but, in particular, more Tanzanian partners willing to become fully involved in the replanting of this most beautiful part of Tanzania. SGG started this project in Mengwe, Rombo District because of a strong local contact.  We wish to continue working in that locality, but we are also aware that there are many areas of Tanzania where tree-planting is essential if the majority of local inhabitants are to rise out of poverty and achieve Millennium Development Goals.  Thus, SGG is interested in contacting any NGOs who are directly involved in tree-planting & conservation anywhere in Tanzania.

Progress

A visit to Ngoyoni in 2008 established that the 2007 planting were successful.  A tree count was taken on 9th January to include the trees planted on the valley side since March 2007.  The total counted was 58 mvule trees and 347 other indigenous species. As the original grant of £95 had to include the cost of manure, the transport of manure, and wages of the labourers, SGG believes that at an average cost of less than 25p/tree this represents good value for money.  With a larger grant and more widespread planting it is intended to reduce costs per tree in line with the SGG slogan “Plant a Tree for 20p!

One of the mvule trees planted in March 2007. This shamba is a good example of agroforestry where trees, such as these mangoes & mvule, and arable crops are grown together.

In 2008 SGG agreed to fund two tree-planting groups based around the village of Mamsera. As yet we have not been able to make a full evaluation of the work done by these groups, but a brief visit in February 2009 established that they had planted more than a thousand trees by that date.  Furthermore, it was agreed that SGG would provide some funding for any surviving trees successfully planted between February 2009 and SGG’s next monitoring visit.

February 2009 – recently planted young trees on Hakwe Hill.

By 2011 SGG has pilot groups who have successfully planted in Rombo District.  In the future we would like to extend the number of partner groups working with us, and thereby extend the area of tree conservation in Tanzania as much as funds and interest allow.