Kiviwama - Indigenous trees for our future

KIVIWAMA

COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION (C.B.Os)

 

 

1. MOSHI, KILIMANJARO

 

Moshi is a Tanzanian municipality with a population of 144,739 according to the 2001 census and estimated 2011 population of 206,728. The municipality is in the Kilimanjaro Region and is situated on the lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano that is the highest mountain in Africa. The municipality coveres about 59 km2 and is the smallest municipality in Tanzania by size.

 

Many people from the Chagga and the Pare ethnic groups live in Moshi, which lies on the A23 Arusha-Himo east-west road connecting Arusha and Voi, Kenya. Just to the east of Moshi is the intersection with the B1 north-south road eventually connecting with Tanga and Dar es Salaam. Moshi is often considered the cleanest town in Tanzania.

 


 

2. SHORT HISTORY OF KIVIWAMA C.b.os 1999

 

KIVIWAMA is an acronym and it stands for KIKUNDI cha VIJANA WAKEREKETWA wa MAZINGIRA. In English, this translates to Young Activists in Environment affiliate in Moshi Municipality.

 

KIVIWAMA was formed in 1999 during the national water week when the nation was motivating the citizens to plant and care for these indiginous trees that are water-friendly. The group is located inthe Mawenzi Ward, Old Moshi Road in the Njoro Juu Water Spring. The group was started by 10 members (4 females members and 6 male members). The group's leaders include a Group Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

 


            KIVIWAMA Members

 

3. THE MAIN REASON OF CREATING THE GROUP

 

The main reason of KIVIWAMA is to reforestate natural water spring sources such as Njoro Juu Water Spring [Survey Plan # d4 252 btd, Registered Plan #324, Survey Date: Dec.12th, 1923], Nsere Spring and Shiri Water Spring as well as along the rivers and valleys which were destroyed by human's economic activities around those communities such as farming and cutting trees.

 

These activities resulted in soil erosion which eventually forced the soil to enter in the water source which reduced the amount of water for consumption in Moshi Municipal and those living outside the Municipal. The lack of security in these areas also encouraged misuse such as building very close to the water source.

 


 

 

4. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE GROUP

 

The main purpose of the group was to produce and plant 500,000 indiginous trees in and around the natural water springs, rivers, valleys and slopes in the Moshi Municipal and out of the Municipality all around Mount Kilimanjaro by 2005.

 


   Reproduction of indiginous trees 2013

 

 

 

5. ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP SINCE 1999

 

To reach its goals, the group has been engaged in the following activities:

 

  1. In 1999, the group bought 300 plants and planted them around the Njoro Juu Water Spring. From there, the group formed its own Indiginous Tree Nursery at the premises. By the end of that year, the group along with the Regional Commissioner and the Municipal planted more trees to commemorate the new Millennium.
  2. From year 2000-2005, the group expanded the tree nursery to produce from 3,000 to 20,000.
  3. From 2005-2010, the group expanded to produce from 20,000-50,000 plants
  4. From 2010-2015, the group is expected to produce not less than 1 million trees
  5. In 2013, the group established a separate nursery solely for producing DALBERGIA MELANOXYLON. Common name African Blackwood.

 

 

 


                        Establishing of the KIVIWAMA Tree Nursery in 1999

 

 

6. SUCCESS OF KIVIWAMA SINCE 1999

 

The group has planted and cared for trees in government sectors, public authorities and institutes, primary, secondary and colleges more than 50 different species as follows:

 

  1. Planted and cared for over 10,000 trees at Njoro Juu Spring from 1999-2013


                                  

                                   Njoro Juu 2000 Water Reservoir

 


                                  

                                    Njoro Juu Conservation 2013

 

                          


                        Njoro Juu Conservation Area 2000


                              Njoro Juu Conservation Area 2012

 

 

 

 

  1. Provided and planted over 8,000 trees at Nsere Spring from 2002-2008
  2. Proveded 5,000 trees to Shiri Springs from 2005-2012
  3. Sold more than 3,000 trees to different Water Springs in Moshi Rural from 1999-2006
  4. Sold more than 5,000 trees to locals for their own purposes
  5. From 2002-2006, the group has sold and planted more than 10,000 trees in a joint venture with KILIMANJARO PLANTATION COFFEE FARMS in the valleys around the Chombo, Kifumbu and Katy Farms.
  6. From 1999-2005, the group provided free of charge and planted more than 1,000 trees around the Police Station in Majengo Ward as well as starting a botanical garden in Mwereni Primary School.

viii.     In 2007, the group formed a branch that produces handmade paper from local plants by   using tree barks. www.kilipaper.itgo.com

ix.         In 2013, the group has managed to sell more than 10,000 trees the ofice of the Regional Commissioner through Sustaineble Land Management (SLM).

 

 

7. OBSTACLES FACING KIVIWAMA

 

The group aimed to produce and plant more that 500,000 trees by the year 2005. Until now, the group has managed to produce and plant around 300,000 trees. The group has not been able to achieve its objective because of the following issues:

 

  1. The government and the environmental authorities have not allocated the areas to be planted to groups such as KIVIWAMA in Kilimanjaro Region
  2. Public awareness
  3. Money to invest in large scale nursery
  4. Technology

 

8. AIM OF KIVIWAMA 2013-2016

 

KIVIWAMA aims to produce more than 1 million indiginous trees of more that 100 species. These trees will be allocated as follows:

 

a)      The group intends to plant 600,000 of these trees around water springs, rivers, valleys, slopes and HALF-MILE strips in the Kilimanjaro Region.

b)      200,000 of these plant will be sold to locals, small companies and large-scal farms for their own use

c)      The group will give, for free, 100,000 plants to primary and secondary schools as well as colleges with the condition that they will be cared for and will be used as a botanical garden.

 

 

9. ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP FOR 2013-2016

 

In order for the group to realize its aim of producing 1 Million trees, the following are expected:

 

  1. A Project Analysis will need to be prepared
  2. To increase the workforce in order to produce more plants
  3. To introduce more species from the 50-100 species to the nursery
  4. To introduce an official MOSHI BOTANICAL GARDEN to be used for educational and awareness purposes

 

10. REQUEST

 

  1. To produce indiginous trees
  2. To protect water srings and planting water-friendly trees
  3. To provide temporary and long term employment
  4. We ask your help in hali na mali.