Kijani Pamoja, in partnership with the Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) Meru, will continue a large-scale tree-planting initiative focused on restoring riparian zones and water catchment areas. The project aims to plant 80,000 indigenous tree seedlings on TFS-supervised land, specifically targeting areas vulnerable to erosion and runoff. These efforts are in response to the ecological damage caused by TFS’s past planting of exotic tree species, which have disrupted the natural balance, especially in sensitive regions like riparian buffers and water sources.

The initiative focuses on three main objectives:

Reforestation:
The program will plant 80,000 indigenous trees in areas identified as degraded or prone to erosion. The goal is to restore local ecosystems by replacing non-native species with native vegetation, which is better suited to the local environment and helps enhance biodiversity. By restoring these areas with native trees, the project aims to improve soil quality, prevent further erosion, and bolster the resilience of these regions to environmental stressors.

Community Engagement:
A key part of the project is involving local communities in the tree-planting and maintenance process. Community members will be trained in proper tree care and encouraged to take responsibility for the ongoing upkeep of the trees through the Taungya system.The Taungya planting system is an agroforestry method where forestry and agriculture are combined on the same piece of land. Originating in Myanmar (formerly Burma), this system was initially developed to establish forest plantations while benefiting local communities. In the Taungya system, trees are planted alongside crops, allowing farmers to grow food crops between young tree seedlings for the first few years. As the trees mature, they begin to overshadow the crops, and farming is usually phased out, leaving the area as a forested plantation. This involvement is intended to increase environmental awareness and foster a sense of stewardship, ensuring that the reforestation effort is sustainable in the long term. Engaging local people helps create a deeper connection to the land and the environmental benefits of the project.

Environmental Impact:
The project is designed to have a significant environmental impact by improving soil quality and reducing erosion in vulnerable areas. Indigenous trees play a crucial role in stabilizing soil and reducing runoff, which helps prevent erosion and protects water quality. Additionally, reintroducing native plant species will support local wildlife and contribute to biodiversity conservation. Healthy riparian zones also provide essential ecosystem services, such as water filtration and flood mitigation, making this project an important step toward enhancing the natural resilience of the region. The following species will be planted on the identified plots.
Albizia maranguensis
Cordia africana,
Ficus sycomorus,
Khaya anthotheca,
Newtonia buchananii,
Podocarpus usambarensis,
Rauvolfia affra,
Sorindeia madagascariensis,
Spathodea campanulata,
Syzygium cumini,
Tabernaemontana pachysiphon,
Trichilia emetica
Kigelia africana
Acacia nilotica
Markhamia lutea

By addressing the environmental challenges in these degraded areas, the partnership between Kijani Pamoja and TFS Meru aims to restore ecological balance and ensure the sustainability of the region’s ecosystems. This tree-planting initiative also serves as a model for combining ecological restoration with community involvement, creating a collaborative approach to environmental conservation that benefits both the land and the people who depend on it. The planting of indigenous species will restore ecological integrity, while community engagement ensures that local populations play an active role in maintaining the health of their environment for future generations.