Africa
Foundation Update: Tree Planting in Tanzania
In honor of Earth Day, we’re pleased to share that two Grand Circle Foundation-supported schools in Tanzania have received Karatu Environmental Office awards for their work planting trees. Since 2012, Grand Circle Foundation has donated $8,732 and planted about 4,320 trees at seven different schools. In this video, take a visit to one of those schools, the Tloma Primary School.
Tanzania is home to one of the largest tree covers in the world, covering more than 118 million acres of land—larger than the entire state of California—and covering more than half of the country’s rugged landscape. Forests help fuel the national economy and provide sanctuary for the country’s abundant wildlife, but these forests are at risk. The country has an annual deforestation rate of about 1% which is twice the world rate of 0.5% per year.
Wood remains the main source of fuel for Tanzanians, even in urban areas. Trees are felled for firewood or turned into charcoal. With a steady population growth rate over 3%, community forests designated to supply wood for fuel are unable to support the growing demand.
Grand Circle Foundation has worked with the schools we support in Tanzania to plant trees at every school and provide education about the importance of trees. In areas like Karatu, where many of the schools are located, there is mass clearance of trees to make way for arable crop farming and the forest is heavily logged.
In 2021, the Karatu Environment Office awarded two Grand Circle Foundation-supported schools. Ayalabe Primary School received a first place award and Tloma Primary School received second place. For this year’s project, Grand Circle Foundation donated $2,040 and 600 trees. Since the initiative began in 2012, donations total to $8,732 and about 4,320 trees at seven different schools.
Grand Circle Foundation funded the transportation and coordinated the plantings at each of the schools. The students unloaded the trees, planted and watered them, and will continue to water them to ensure they grow and remain healthy—which is also what we hope for all the students—that they will continue to grow and remain healthy.
The first year we planted trees, we combined the planting with a two day seminar with an environmentalist at all the schools. The students were taught the importance of protecting and planting trees; how to avoid using charcoal as fuel; compost making; how to cope with drought conditions; and growing plants from seed. The lessons had an impact beyond the schools, helping to lead the community forward in conservation projects.
The trees help reduce carbon emissions, and provide food and shade for the students. Schools have harvested papayas, lemons, oranges and avocados. Tarangire Primary and Eluway Primary have no fences around their schools, making it easy for goats, sheep, and cows to eat the seedlings. Under village bylaws, and with the village leader’s agreement, the schools can fine herders 50,000 Tanzanian shillings ($25) if any seedling is eaten, and we haven’t lost any yet!