Employees of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) have today, March 28, 2025, participated in a tree-planting initiative in support of the environmental conservation campaign launched by Arusha Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda on March 15, 2025.
The campaign aims to preserve the environment and enhance the natural beauty of Arusha, a key tourism hub in Tanzania.
Speaking at the tree-planting event held at NCAA’s offices in Karatu, Chief Wildlife and Research Conservation Officer Lohi Zakaria emphasized the importance of the initiative in complementing government efforts to combat climate change and protect the ecosystem.
"Today, we have implemented the directive from the Arusha Regional Commissioner by planting 1,000 trees. This effort aligns with the government’s mission to address climate change, particularly the challenge of carbon emissions, which is a global concern," said Zakaria.
Chief Conservation Officer Dismas Macha highlighted NCAA’s commitment to environmental conservation beyond its jurisdiction, noting that the authority actively engages communities in villages surrounding the conservation area.
NCAA has been distributing tree seedlings from its nursery to residents, encouraging them to plant and restore natural vegetation in their surroundings.
According to NCAA’s tree nursery supervisor, Naman Naman, since the global tree-planting day on March 21, 2025, the authority has distributed 10,000 seedlings to residents of 17 villages bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Karatu, Monduli, and Meatu districts.
The distributed seedlings provide multiple benefits to communities, including serving as sources of medicine, timber, firewood, and fruits, supporting beekeeping activities, improving environmental sustainability, and preventing soil erosion.
