United Methodists Embark on Tree Planting in Zimbabwe

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Special to United Methodist Insight

MUTARE, Zimbabwe – United Methodist Churches in Zimbabwe have taken an initiative to plant trees in their communities. This move is aimed at promoting environmental conservation and mitigating the effects of climate change. The churches have partnered with local organizations to ensure the success of this project.

The United Methodist Churches in Zimbabwe are setting a good example for other organizations and communities to follow. This initiative is not only beneficial to the environment but also to the communities that will benefit from the trees planted. It is a step towards a sustainable future for Zimbabwe and the world at large.

Trees control climate by moderating the effects of the sun, rain and wind. Leaves absorb and filter the sun’s radiant energy, keeping things cool in summer. Trees also preserve warmth by providing a screen from harsh wind. In addition to influencing wind speed and direction, they shield us from the downfall of rain, sleet and hail. Trees also lower the air temperature and reduce the heat intensity of the greenhouse effect by maintaining low levels of carbon dioxide.

The tree planting exercise has begun in various communities across Zimbabwe. The churches have mobilized their members to participate in this exercise, and the response has been overwhelming. The trees planted include indigenous species that are well adapted to the local climate. This will ensure their survival and growth, thus contributing to the overall goal of environmental conservation.

20,000 trees planted in 2022

United Methodists planted 20,000 trees on first Saturday of December 2022. On 23 March 2023 Mutare District of the UMC gathered at Dangamvura East Circuit to launch tree planting and tree growing campaign which began in 2022. Dangamvura East is located in Mutare town in Manicaland province. The circuit is strategically positioned to the whole Mutare District.

The circuit’s surrounding areas once had thick forest but as of now, you can hardly see any tree. The area has become a semi-desert. There are no shrubs. The UMC sanctuary of Dangamvura East is exposed to the wind, as there is no wind break. The Mutare district found out that it needed to initiate a program of reforestation in the area. The Church then initiated planting trees around the church stand and surrounding areas.

Nyaradzo funeral services, Environment buddies in Zimbabwe, Forest Commission and several companies came together to plant trees. Derek Ndebele, chief executive officer of Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Mutare, was the guest of honour on the planting day.

The guest of honor said Nyaradzo launched planting trees in 2013 when they discovered that the industry they are in is using furniture to make coffins. Mr. Ndebele further explained that as Nyaradzo funeral services, “we decided to plough back to the environment (friends of the environment).” He encouraged schools and churches to put their hands together and preserve the environment by planting trees.

Environmental buddies Zimbabwe Trust and one of its founders, Miss Shamiso Winnet Mupara, encouraged the church to support the planting and growing of trees. Miss Mupara is a grassroot organizer in the United Methodist Church. She focuses on the Social Principles of the UMC.

The partnership between United Methodist Church and Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe has initiated several tree planting activities, education and awareness in environmental protection and capacity building in climate adaptation. They have connected with UMC congregants in Zimbabwe and other African countries, United States of America, and United Kingdom. Environmental buddies in Zimbabwe are a non-governmental organization that aims to promote sustainable forests, resources management, and waste management in Zimbabwe.

Miss Mupara said that Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe was established in 2017 in response to environmental, socio and economic rights abuses experienced by women, youth, and children especially in rural areas and marginalized communities due to concerns about the surging desertification and pollution linked to extractives, commercial agriculture and mining, among others. Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe conducts community-based agro-forestry, reforestation, and afforestation projects in rural and peri-urban areas.

Multiple climate change threats

Zimbabwe is battling with climate change disasters such as floods, droughts, food insecurity. Then human induced environmental degradation such as deforestation, unsustainable mining activities, water pollution, air pollution. There are also political challenges such as human rights abuses, corruption, and misplaced economic priorities by leadership. All these challenges are robbing women, youth and children of essential human rights such as health environment, food, shelter, clean air, education, quality environmental education and right to be heard.

While traditionally rural communities use firewood for energy, the energy/electricity crisis (shortage, exorbitant prices) that gripped the country since the 2000s has seen more city dwellers relying on firewood/charcoal for energy, exerting more pressure on already strained forest resources.

In 2005 Zimbabwe was ranked among the top 10 deforesting countries in the world, sending millions of Zimbabweans scouring for food, water, medicines and energy since then. Resources in Zimbabwe have always been exploited without a matched effort to preserve or repair the damaged environment, impacting negatively on the natural environment and communities.

Miss Mupara stated that, “as a pastor’s child and a United Methodist member, I am ploughing back home. The Church sponsored my studies, and I was tasked to come and serve the communities.” She encouraged youth to participate in planting and growing trees.

Miss Mupara emphasized that to restore forest ecosystems, trees must be replanted on all land uses including former forest land, degraded lands, and agricultural land. This can be done using tree seedlings or seed balls to establish woodlots, woodlands, orchards, and green belts. Seedballs have emerged as an innovative way to achieve large-scale afforestation and restoring degraded landscapes.

She added that trees are most likely to thrive in places where they are used to growing naturally or where they have been planted successfully before. Usually, they are adapted to the local climate and soil and are likely to support far more biodiversity than exotic species.

Trees that are native to a local area are well adapted to the naturally occurring site conditions. This adaption can result in lower maintenance costs and eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation, specialized fertilizer, herbicides, soil amendments, or protection from wind, sun and cold, said Miss Mupara.

Native trees are linked to the well-being of the insects, birds, and wildlife species that naturally occur in an area. Over many generations of living in proximity to these native trees, some of these animal species have evolved to rely on the trees and the associated understory plants, such as shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers, to meet their specialized food, shelter, and breeding needs.

Miss Mupara added that trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, mature, and supporting wildlife.

A representative from the Forest Commission in Zimbabwe, Brian Muchadanyika, challenged the United Methodist Church and other denominations to guard the environment zealously. The Forest Commission operates under the authority of the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. The commission was created in 1954 and is responsible for the regulation, management and conservation of forest resources and managing gazetted indigenous forests which cover about 0.8 % of the total surface area of the country.

Mr. Muchadanyika narrated the creation story saying that “when God created everything and there was the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:1ff).” Why did God do that? What was the reason behind? He then asked, “Where is the Church?” The Church has been silent especially on conservation of the environment.

Mr Muchadanyika applauded the United Methodist Church for initiating the program of planting trees. He challenged the churches to involve the youths. They are the ones who should pass on the information to the next generation.   

Dora North is a rural circuit in Mutare District located 10 km from Mutare town. Mutare residents travel to Dora to fetch firewood. There is massive destruction of trees in Dora area. The Circuit decided to offer a practical response to Zimbabwe’s disappearing forests and rising pollution crisis which is undermining the ability of rural communities to meet their own needs.

Mutare District's tree-planting campaign motivated Dora North Circuit to plant 20 muchakata trees and musasa trees. Muchakata and Musasa trees are found locally, hence the adapt the climatic conditions of Dora community. These trees are used as herbs, rainmaking ceremonies and firewood as well. The Circuit sent representatives to the launch of the tree planting campaign to tell their story.

Zimbabwe United Methodists' tree-planting campaign is fulfilling the United Methodist Church’s Social Principles' goals to be good stewards of the environment.

The Rev. Enesto Muzerengwa is a communicator in the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference.