Trees help in climate control

from the capital, Harare to the Eastern Highlands’ border city of Mutare.

For those not familiar with the Harare-Mutare Highway, it stretches over a distance of 263 kilometres.
Apart from raising public awareness on the important issue of conserving our forests by desisting from cutting down trees recklessly and, instead, begin to aggressively replace those that were destroyed by previous generations, including the current one, I am taking advantage of the FOTE walkathon to keep fit.

The exercise part makes this punishing journey a bit more exciting. Better still, the more the participants the merrier.
This is how Lillian, a business executive based in Harare and a participant in the 2011 Edition of 500 Million Tree Walk, summarised her motive to join the walkathon.
She said her main aim in this walk is to motivate others to do something similar by reducing the negative impact of fossil fuels on the environment and contributing to current efforts meant to combat global warming.

“People are generally happier when they have meaning in their lives,” she said.
“Living a meaningful life is being able to make a difference in the world. Sometimes people donate items, money or volunteer their time (to this or that worthy cause).
“There are many ways to get involved in worthy causes, either as an individual, as a couple, as a family or as an organisation.
“Personally, I am involved in this walkathon because I believe tree planting is one sure way to halt the threat to our environment that has become a source of major concern to the whole world. It is a worthy cause that everyone must participate in.”

Linda believes that while the threat posed by global warming sounds insurmountable, it can be overcome all the same if the human race believes in its ability to reverse the phenomenon and at the same time being able to walk the talk.
“Let me just briefly remind you of the story of David and Goliath,” Lillian said, while referring to the Holy Scriptures.

“David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to the battle line by his father to bring back news of his brothers. David was probably just a young teenager at the time. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear it stirred within the men of Israel.
“So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David fight the giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd’s staff, slingshot and a pouch full of stones, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and insults.

“As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath’s head. Finding a hole in the armour, the stone sank into the giant’s forehead and he fell, face down on the ground. David then took Goliath’s sword, killed him and then cut off his head.
“When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. So the Israelites pursued, chasing and killing them and plundering their camp.”
The global warming which is threatening to wipe out all humankind, she said, is the Goliath who needs to be fought.

“FOTE and their tree planting initiative are the David. In the same way David’s sling looked small and ineffective, planting trees one after the other would appear as time and resource wasting when you embark on it,” she said.
She added that the trees being planted one sapling after another have the potential to stop Goliath in the social, communal, environmental and economic problems that are wreaking havoc in our lives.

“We like trees around us because they make life more pleasant. Most of us respond to the presence of trees beyond simply observing their beauty.
“We feel serene, peaceful, restful and tranquil in a grove of trees. We are ‘at home’ there.
“Hospital patients have been shown to recover from surgery more quickly when their hospital room offered a view of trees.
“The strong ties between people and trees are most evident in the resistance of community residents to removing trees to widen streets.

“Or we note the heroic efforts of individuals and organisations to save particularly large or historic trees in a community,” she said.
The stature, strength and endurance of trees, she said gives them a cathedral-like quality.
“Because of their potential for long life, trees frequently are planted as living memorials. We often become personally attached to trees that we or those we love have planted.

“Even though trees may be private property, their size often makes them part of the community as well. Because trees occupy considerable space, planning is required if you and your neighbours and the community at large are to benefit.

“With proper selection and maintenance, trees can enhance and function on one property without infringing on the rights and privileges of neighbours. Trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water and harbouring wildlife.
“Climate control is obtained by moderating the effects of sun, wind and rain. Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed or deflected by leaves on deciduous trees in the summer and is only filtered by branches of deciduous trees in winter.

“We are cooler when we stand in the shade of trees and are not exposed to direct sunlight,” she said.
“Wind speed and direction can be affected by trees. The more compact the foliage on the tree or group of trees, the greater the influence of the windbreak.
“The downward fall of rain, sleet and hail is initially absorbed or deflected by trees, which provides some protection for people, pets and buildings. Trees intercept water, store some of it, and reduce run-off and the possibility of flooding.

She said dew and frost are less common under trees because less radiant energy is released from the soil in those areas at night.
“Temperature in the vicinity of trees is cooler than that away from trees: The larger the tree, the greater the cooling.

“Air quality can be improved through the use of trees, shrubs and turf. Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles. Rain then washes the pollutants to the ground.
“Leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air to form carbohydrates that are used in the plant’s structure and function. In this process, leaves also absorb other air pollutants – such as ozone, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide – and give off oxygen.

“By planting trees and shrubs, we return to a more natural environment. Birds and other wildlife are attracted to the area. Trees increase in value from the time they are planted until they mature.
“To function well in the landscape, trees require maintenance. Corrective pruning and mulching gives trees a good start. The task before us really measures up to that of David against Goliath.

“And like David, we shall succeed in our efforts to save our land from desertification by planting more trees”.
But for us to succeed, Zimbabwe needs more people like Lillian.

About FOTE
FOTE comprises like-minded organisations – from the corporate world, government, non-governmental organisations and individuals that came together in 2010 to support the idea of reforestation through a non-profit-making Trust Fund. The organisation works with the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, along with other environmental organisations, with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management.