The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
ENVIRONMENT, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has urged the public to prioritise planting trees in order to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Speaking during a Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo tree-planting ceremony held at Insukamini Primary School in Bulawayo, Minister Ndlovu said trees also work as wind-breakers.
“When you plant more trees, it reduces the chances of having roofs blown away by the wind as we have witnessed in some instances,” said Minister Ndlovu, who is an Insukamini Primary School alumni.
“They not only absorb carbon dioxide, but have several other benefits. Let us make it a habit to plant trees on suitable sites as much as we can.”
Tree planting has been made a part of this year’s edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo
The campaign, which is running under the theme “Trees for Tourism”, will extend beyond the expo.
It also includes other stakeholders such as Forest Lovers, a social enterprise of greener citizens striving for greener nations; Forestry Commission; Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education; and the Environmental Management Agency, among others.
Stakeholders believe the Trees for Tourism initiative is a perfect platform for tourists, tourism operators and other companies affiliated with the tourism industry in Zimbabwe to play their part in safeguarding the precious resource.
The initiative encourages the creation and safeguarding of forest eco-systems for future generations.
The programme also promotes the use of renewable energy such as solar power in the tourism sector.
Zimbabwe, like other countries, has experienced the impact of climate change through droughts and tropical cyclones, among other weather-related disasters.
