By Byron Adonis Mutingwende- As a way of tackling climate change and in line with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as outlined in the Paris Agreement, the Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) Party recently commemorated the National Tree Planting Day by planting trees in Mhondoro and Chikomba as a launchpad to a massive nationwide tree-planting exercise to cascade to all provinces countrywide.
The Tree Planting Day is held on the first Saturday of December and this year’s theme is “Forest Restoration: A path to recovery and well-being.”
Planet Earth is under threat from the adverse effects of climate change. According to FORUS President, Manyara Irene Muyenziwa, trees contribute to the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, sequestering carbon, protecting biodiversity, preventing soil erosion, and supporting wildlife.
Addressing Masawi Secondary School pupils on the importance of trees in Mhondoro earlier today,
Muyenziwa underscored the importance of planting and nurturing trees as a way of combating climate change.“Trees have many uses in life. “As we plant trees together, we strengthen community unity and the noble initiative of cooperating for the good of the environment.
We should all take pride in creating a safe environment for all and maintaining balanced biodiversity through planting trees that provide us food and medicine as well as helping in slowing the rate of global warming.
“Trees also reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves. They help prevent flooding and soil erosion, and absorb thousands of litres of stormwater thereby avoiding gullies and siltation of our rivers and dams,” Muyenziwa said.
The FORUS President also encouraged the pupils to always take part in tree planting as trees are also invaluable for children to play in and discover their sense of adventure.
The FORUS Party team also planted trees at Muchekecha in Chikomba District, Mashonaland East where at least 1000 trees were planted in addition to the same number planted in Mhondoro.