Sebastian Wins Conde Nast Traveler “World Savers” Award

Sebastian Chuwa has received an Environmental Award from Conde Nast Traveler magazine, placing as a runner-up along with three other environmentalists for his tree planting and educational work for the conservation of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Sebastian's writeup here)

These environmentalists have been dubbed as “World Savers” by the magazine, which for the past 17 years has celebrated "an unsung few who are fighting to safeguard some of the globe's most spectacular destinations, which for these heroes also happen to be home. Thanks to the tireless efforts of these individuals, and to their achievements in the face of formidable opposition, the natural treasures that they are protecting are safe for now. For that, we salute them."

The first place winner was Marina Rikhvanova, a Russian biologist working to preserve Lake Baikal, the world's oldest and deepest lake. Conde Nast Traveler features articles on worldwide travel destinations, publishing related information about art, architecture, fashion, culture, food, and shopping.

With the cash award from this prize, Sebastian plans to build a tree nursery to raise coffee, mpingo, and hardwood trees for reforesting Kilimanjaro.

We thank the staff of Conde Nast for this invaluable support and recognition for those who consider it a life priority to work for the preservation of our precious planet earth and its resources.

Our group at Osunyai Safari Camp, just outside of Tarangire National Park in Masai lands, with the Wildlife Explorer camp crew and safari tent at the far left. In the back row from the left are: James, Abraham, Kimani, Nenry, Sebastian, Elizabeth, Hendry, Mustafa, Naftal, Marc, Roger. In the front row are: Noel, Bette, Julius. October 7, 2006.

Traveling to Tanzania

In September of this year, we (James Harris and Bette Stockbauer), along with Bette’s brother, Roger, and his son Marc, traveled to Africa, spending 5 weeks in Tanzania. Roger and Marc successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, a longtime dream for both of them.

Bette and James stayed with Sebastian Chuwa and his wife, Elizabeth, where they live on Kilimanjaro at about a mile in altitude. It was amazing to walk on the roads of the mountain in this area, as everywhere you looked there were banana and coffee plots, interplanted with beans, corn and other vegetables. Taller hardwood trees, such as avocado and wild fig, were interspersed with these agricultural crops. Irrigation ditches, skillfully laid out, channeled water to all these little farms. Sebastian and Elizabeth own several acres planted in such crops and also raise cows, pigs and goats.

Also, we had the opportunity to visit many of the people with whom they have worked for the past ten years — the Mpingo Women’s Group in Kikavu Chini, the Green Garden group in Moshi, and the Kibosho East Environmental Group. We also talked at length with Sebastian about the ABCP, mapping out a future direction for our work.

The trip included a journey to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, where we stayed with relatives of Sebastian and Elizabeth and toured historical sites.   During the last week we took a safari to four national parks. These tours showed us the immense diversity and beauty of the country and gave us a true appreciation of its wonders. You can view our photo journal online at: www.ornamentalturner.com/safarigallery/index.html.

Treat the earth well.

It was not given to you

by your parents.

It was loaned to you

by your children.

- Kenyan proverb

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