Athuman’s Quest to Curb Deforestation

Tanzania, a haven of ecological diversity in East Africa that boasts of various forests and woodlands, is facing a daunting challenge; the alarming rate of deforestation, estimated at 469,000 hectares per year (Referenced by a UNDP article). Read more about the situation here. This environmental degradation aggravates climate change and destroys the beautiful ecosystem that is vital to humans and animals.

Many measures have been put in place to reduce deforestation including a recent intervention by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with the United Republic of Tanzania that aims to fight the impact of deforestation and climate change in general.

While international organizations, government agencies, and local authorities are working together to boost forest conservation, concerned citizens are also contributing to this collective effort by doing the little they can to support the cause of environmental sustainability.

One such person is Athuman, a 17-year-old secondary school student, who is going out of his way to fight deforestation in Tanzania. Athuman comes from the Tanga Region and in his first year at school, he joined the Asante Africa Foundation’s Youth Livelihood Program where he acquired the key skills of entrepreneurship. This inspired him to start a tree nursery business.

Today, Athuman owns a small farm where he cultivates and sells tree seedlings to his community. This small business also generates income to support himself and his family. Athuman uses the opportunity to educate people on the importance of planting trees to avoid environmental effects such as soil erosion and deforestation.

 Athuman’s interest in environmental protection has inspired his fellow students to start a tree-planting exercise around the school where there are few trees.  

As Asante Africa continues to empower young people across East Africa, stories like Athuman’s serve as a reminder of the potential for positive change that exists within every individual.