Bulawayo Urban Greening - Community embraces tree after-care

Speaking to the ZDDT News Correspondent, Ntando Sibanda (NS), on the sidelines of a tree after-care exercise recently, Patrick Mlauzi (PM) said the residents respect the site where the trees were planted as they no longer litter or burn the area. This was revealed during an in-depth interview. Excerpts of the interview can be found below:

(See the April tree after-care update).

NS: What impact does this project (Urban Greening Initiative) have on the residents of Ward 3?

PM: People look at this initiative as a very good and welcome development. Naturally, they did not fully appreciate it at the beginning, but now there is a sign that they are beginning to embrace it, as they now realise that it a growing project and it is going to help the environment and their health.

NS: Is the community now actively participating in the tree after care?

PM: Yes of course they now join us from time to time but the most important thing is that they are taking care of the trees. The fact that they now understand that these tree will benefit them and their children has made them to respect and nurture the project, they have even stopped dumping litter in this area and as you can see, this year there hasn’t been a fire here.

NS: In conclusion, is this a welcome project in this community?

PM: Yes, it is a very welcome project; this site is set to be a community centre, with a soccer field that has already groomed a number of youngsters. These trees just complete the beauty that this place is and constantly remind the people how important community effort is in restoration work.

ZDDT introduced the initiative as a contribution to the “Going Green” bandwagon that has waged war against the negative aspects of climate change. The Urban Greening Initiative has also seen the Trust receiving acknowledgement from the United Nations through the Billion Tree Campaign.