Tree Planting

Tree planting plays an important role in the socio-economic development of communities, as trees provide timber, wood, fodder, fruits, medicine and a whole range of other economic and environmental benefits that uphold and sustain the livelihoods of rural women. Impacts of climate change are superimposed on other socio-economic stressors which can be addressed by tree planting. Deforestation has turned out to be the chief global ecological tragedy of modern times. It is estimated that 330 000 hectares of trees are destroyed annually in Zimbabwe (1ha=1600 trees). At this rate Zimbabwe will be completely wiped out in 52 years. (Forestry Commission 2012.) Deforestation is said to be affecting the SADC region, African Continent and the whole world. Forests are depleting much faster than nature can replenish on its own. Trees play a key role in our battle against climate change, hence the need to plant them.