Tanzania is committed to planting five million trees on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro by 2030, as it seeks to save its famed glaciers on the summit from disappearing.
United Nations experts predict that the snow on the ‘Roof of Africa’ will completely disappear by 2050 as a result of climate change.
While the UN says the trend could be reversed if the world cut global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius, studies indicate that 80% of the snow has melted since early last century.
Officiating at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Kilimanjaro National Park this month, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa said: “We are committed to plant five million trees on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in our latest effort to rescue the snow from disappearing.”
Mchengerwa further urged climbers to refrain from activities that pollute and jeopardise the mountain’s environmental health. He said the ministry was considering putting in place waste disposal and surveillance systems along the mountain’s ascending and descending routes.
“It is time we promoted use of alternative energy to reduce the widespread application of firewood and charcoal.”
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Conservation Commissioner, William Mwakilema, was optimistic that the trees would generate sufficient moisture and rain required for preserving the snow on the mountain, “as the forest and wildlife greatly contribute to mitigating climate change”.
TANAPA has also rolled out other activities such as cleaning the mountain’s climbing routes. “TANAPA will continue collaborating with conservation and tourism players, the government, the public, private firms, researchers and journalists in ensuring ecological systems continue being conserved and protected for sustainable development,” said Mwakilema.
The Unesco World Heritage Site’s famed Uhuru Peak gained high-speed Internet at the start of this year.
At 5 895m above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountain.
