Indigenous Trees a Treasure for Africa
Lazarus Sauti
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Planting more local or
indigenous trees than foreign trees is crucial to the expansion of the
continent since Africans know their benefits and even the side effects, unlike
alien species.
Zimbabwe police
Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri says indigenous trees are a source of
living for both animals and human beings. Therefore, Africans must not only
plant more indigenous trees but also protect the existing ones.
“It is important for
Africans to plant more trees, especially indigenous ones, as they are a source
of living for both animals and human beings,” he says.
Chihuri goes on to say:
“Indigenous trees should be properly maintained, as they are a foundation of
life to humans and animals. The life of a person can never be complete without
trees.”
Importantly, indigenous
trees also helped Africans during the continent’s liberation struggles.
“Africans must protect
indigenous trees since these trees played a very important role during Africa’s
liberation struggles, as they provided freedom fighters with the necessary
cover,” said Commissioner Chihuri.
For this and other
reasons, Africa should plant more indigenous trees, replace those that have
been cut or have died and safeguard the existing forests. Planting more
indigenous trees beautifies the continent, brings soil together and the tree
act as wind breaks.
Chihuri says,
“Geographically, planting and maintenance of indigenous trees ensures a
favourable ecosystem that supports and sustains life on earth; while
scientifically trees represent a vast reservoir of genetic resources and
biodiversity and they attract the much sought-after rains.”
Consequently, political
leaders, development players and environmentalist across the continent should
encourage Africans to plant and maintain indigenous trees for the good of the
continent.
Africans should be
educated to care for their indigenous forests.
Philip Mataranyika, one
of the founding trustees of Friends of The Environment (FOTE), believes that a
citizenry well informed about the importance of planting indigenous trees is an
empowered citizenry. They would act for life by restoring the depleted
indigenous forests and not act for death by aggravating the situation, as is
currently the case in most African countries.
The continent should
take a leaf from the People’s Republic of China, where the government has set a
requirement that every able-bodied citizen between the ages of 11 and 60 is
responsible for planting three to five trees per year or complete an equal
amount of work in other areas of forestry. Since 1982, the Chinese government
claims that at least one billion trees have been planted through the programme.
Planting indigenous
trees requires a multisectoral approach if the content is to fully benefit.
This means that citizens, governments and corporations in the continent should
play crucial roles. Truly, if citizens and corporations have the ability to
destroy the region’s intact indigenous forests, they also have the power to
save them.
Ultimately, governments
and corporations in Africa should make an impact by providing seedlings and
introducing zero-deforestation policies. More so, supporting conservation
organisations is another effective way of promoting and protecting indigenous
trees. The support can be through donations of time, money or actions to
organisations that run programmes concentrating on the preservation of
indigenous forests. Since water is a challenge in most African countries,
political leaders must come up with strategies that ensure that the project of
planting indigenous trees will not be stopped due to water shortages.
The effects of losing
indigenous trees are devastating to the African continent. Therefore, African
countries should take serious steps to plant and protect indigenous trees if
the continent is to keep its pride and protect its citizens from different
problems caused by many exotic products.
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