I have just been typing up old
diary notes and realise there is a need to spell out why there are so many tree
planting failures.
Alfred at Engorora was the
chairman of the environmental group there and so to set an example to other members,
he planted more trees than anyone else. That was all very well during the long
rains, but what happens when the drought comes?
Well he was busy doing his
usual work, his wife was busy finding food for their zero grazed cow and calf
and the children had their school work and other activities to attend to. As
well water was short and as far as a water source goes, Engorora is not as bad
as many other villages.
So a lot of Alfred’s trees did
not survive the drought!
Had he planted a few trees,
time could have been found to water them – by a few, I mean no more than ten.
Fifty trees takes a lot of watering time especially if water has to be carried
any distance at all.
There is a lot of time, effort
and expense gone into raising a tree seedling to the time it can be planted
out. Then there is the time to plant it and shelter it from the severe sun and
from animals – including hens!
I remember Mama Kuku funding
the supply and transport of trees to Arusha from Moshi or Same to several
village throughout Arumeru – 60 000 trees on a load. They were delivered – I almost
said ‘dumped’ because that’s what it amounted to – at village offices and
Diocese offices for distribution. How were those offices were supposed to maintain
those trees until village people could collect them I have no idea. There were
no funds for delivery to households.
SCAPA were no different – they
delivered far too many trees and they just could not be cared for in the
village situation.
If you are writing a funding
proposal, funders’ eyes light up when you mention big tree numbers because ‘this
will prevent climate change’. But causing village people extra work had to be
modified to something that they are able to achieve reasonably – the process is
slower but the outcome more satisfactory.
Losses are not only financial
or time, the biggest loss is in enthusiasm for the idea of tree planting to
enhance environments and indeed to save the planet.
