Blog
Reforestation and environmental education
Daisy Banda | Zambia | 31 March 2016
In Zambia, five ARISE schools in Munkuye, Kalale, Nkeyema, Mawilo and Kakanda recently started taking part in a reforestation program.
Tree planting and caring for trees is being offered as a new after school activity, which keeps children at school and prevents them from working on family farms when class has finished. The pupils will tend the trees and learn about environmental conservation from JTI’s Agroforestry Supervisors and Leaf Technicians.
The reforestation program is part of JTI’s sustainability strategy to ensure that its contracted tobacco farmers are self-sufficient in sourcing firewood, which is used as part of the tobacco curing process. The initiative has seen more than two million tree seedlings disbursed in growing communities.
Each school is expected to plant and manage 100 tree seedlings. The school that emerges with the highest number of surviving trees after 12 months will win a mobile library comprising various learning aids and reading materials including educational electronic games.
We are excited about the knowledge and environmental education that pupils will gain from the competition, as well as the long-term benefits to tobacco growing communities.
ARISE é uma iniciativa conjunta da Organização Internacional do Trabalho (OIT), JTI e Winrock International. Foi desenvolvida com o envolvimento de governos federais, parceiros sociais e comunidades produtoras de tabaco.
