Moshi — THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through Sustainable Land Management Facility, has given 30m/- to Kilimanjaro to conserve water sources through tree-planting.

The money will be shared by all districts with each getting 5m/- to conserve degraded water sources. A report from the Regional Commissioner's office indicated that the financial support will also be used to mobilize Kilimanjaro residents to use energy saving stoves and revive traditional irrigation furrows in the on-going campaign to restore and conserve the heavily degraded environment.

"Since the official launching of tree planting campaign after an extra-ordinary Regional Consultative Council on February 29 this year, Siha District has planted 689,000 tree seedlings followed by Moshi Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (18,000), Same District (13,234) and Same Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority(546), the report says.

The current tree-planting activities in Kilimanjaro region are being carried out on competition basis and at par with the Presidential Award on Conservation of Water Sources and Environment in which winners will be awarded with various prizes during the climax of the International Environment Day on Wednesday which will be graced by President Jakaya Kikwete.

Other on-going environmental conservation activities include conservation of river banks in the seven municipal/ district councils, banning agricultural activities along the 60-metre width of river banks as well as planting of water friendly trees around water sources and river banks.