The manifold effects which the physical presence and activity of man have had on the face of the planet Earth through the relatively short period of man's history tend to be dynamic and interlocking, yet it is worth while attempting to classify them for a clearer understanding of temporal and spatial factors. The world as it existed before its commoditisation was one of immense richness in natural resources, organic and inorganic. The ability to identify, reach and use natural resources has been a continuous process for man, and there is now a fair archaeological and historical understanding of the differing rates of exploitation in different parts of the world, the sudden changes of rate and style caused by changes in human condition and the enormously accelerated rate of change within the last century. It seems certain that man's ingenuity is running ahead of his wisdom and now nature is making a consolidated effort through social and environmental ills to remind man of his individual inter-connectedness with the biosphere.
From the beginnings of civilisation, man has altered environmental processes as he dug into the organic store of the planet's ecosystems.
Needing to have reality confirmed and experience enhanced by photographs is an aesthetic consumerism to which everyone is now addicted. Industrial societies turn their citizens into image-junkies; it is the most irresistible form of mental pollution pointing to our common collective trauma haunting us as a society.
Armaments, universal debt, and planned obsolescence—those are the three pillars of Western prosperity which we have inherited through colonisation and our liberation as Africa wouldn't be complete until we make corporate effort to decolonise ourselves from unsustainable mindsets and lifestyles wouldn't be complete. Hence it is against this background that as Glenview-Budiriro Centre for Heritage Arts & Culture in partnership with Chartered Institute of Organic Health Trust, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe, African Tree Seeds have embarked on a drive to reclaim our national identity and sovereignty through social and environmental rehabilitation programme starting with the April 15 Inaugural African Indigenous Tree Day which will be held at Budiriro Youth Centre from 9am to 2pm.
The inaugural ITD (April 15 2024; ITD24) will be marked by ATSG members from a minimum of 15 countries, working with school conservation clubs in their respective countries to plant 30 indigenous tree species on the grounds of the schools.
Every effort will be made to enrich tree species choice with threatened species. The school conservation club members will be taught how to plant and tend to the saplings, and the country ATSG teams will monitor progress over the first 12 months. Countries can, and should, have more than one school participating if at all possible. The global community is also urged to plant trees that belong, on this special day. The school with the highest tree survival percentage across countries will win a prize at the launch of ITD25. ITD25 will aim to involve more schools and involve more countries that ITD24.
The Glenview-Budiriro Centre for Heritage Arts & Culture has took it upon itself to establish an Agroecological learning center for interested communities to come and learn from district's shattering experience of being one of the most food insecure communities of Harare according to 2021 Zimvac statistics.
Through constant support and determination of involved stakeholders this year's Indigenous Tree Day is a harbinger of a yearly four-day heritage arts and culture festival to be celebrated at the centre towards our national independence starting from 2025.
- Toward protection of indigenous trees
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Without environmental sustainability, economic stability and social cohesion can not be achieved be it on family, corporate, national, continental or global level and we can not talk of development hence it is against this line of that an inclusive approach has been taken as evidenced by the active participation of felons and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services in sustainable community development.
- Tinashe Elvis Chikodzi is a social entrepreneur, founder and director of Chartered Institute of Organic Health Trust, Chartered Customer Service Professional member of the Africa Project Against Suicides. He can be contacted on +263 716 641 253
- These weekly articles are coordinated by Lovemore Kadenge, an independent consultant, managing consultant of Zawale Consulants (Private) Limited, past president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society and past president of the Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe.
- Mobile No. +263 772 382 852
