Chuwa wins environmental award during Olympic ceremonies

Sebastian Chuwa, an environmentalist who has long been

active in implementing educational and tree-planting programs for sustainable

development on Mt. Kilimanjaro, has received the "Spirit of the Land" award

during Olympic ceremonies in Salt Lake City, USA. This award, presented by the

Salt Lake Olympic Committee, was given to 10 US and 5 international recipients

for their work in promoting environmental educational efforts during the year

2001.

By Bette Stockbauer

Sebastian Chuwa, a Tanzanian botanist and environmentalist, has

been chosen by the Salt Lake Olympic Committee to receive the "Spirit of the

Land Award" honoring his work in environmental education. The award was

presented to ten US and five international recipients during Olympic Ceremonies

in Salt Lake City, Utah on Feb. 19.

 

 In 1994, the International Olympic Committee adopted environment

as the third principle of Olympism along with sport and culture. One of the

primary goals of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee has been to ensure the

protection of Utah's environment while staging the 2002 Games. The Spirit of the

Land program embodies a commitment to raise the general consciousness of its

guests from around the world about green practices, to leave a legacy of

environmental improvement and to honor individuals from around the world who

have made substantial educational efforts on behalf of the environment.

During the past ten years Mr. Chuwa has been active in

organizing communities on Mt. Kilimanjaro to institute programs which protect

the ecology of the mountain. The rich volcanic soil of Kilimanjaro makes it one

of Tanzania's most important agricultural areas. Runoff from its slopes supply a

large surrounding region with vital water for drinking, irrigation and

hydrological power.

 

Working through the local school system, Mr. Chuwa has

established 47 Malihai Clubs (youth conservation groups) which are teaching

students the importance of sound ecological practices and organizing them in

practical activities to help the environment. Each school group establishes a

tree nursery and raises seedlings which they replant in deforested areas which

need reclamation or distribute into the community to help raise the standard of

living for those who live on the mountain.

 

Each year these Clubs host a 5-day Environmental Day celebration

to raise environmental awareness on the mountain and to encourage replanting of

local species. Malihai Clubs on Mt. Kilimanjaro have replanted over 500,000

trees, many of them along the overused routes that backpackers use in climbing

the mountain. Mr. Chuwa is chairman of the Kilimanjaro Environmental

Conservation Management Trust Fund:

 

Mr. Chuwa has also co-founded the African Blackwood Conservation

Project (ABCP) "http://www.blackwoodconservation.org/"

along with a US team of woodworkers. This organization spearheads educational and replanting programs for African blackwood, an important species that is used

internationally in the manufacture of musical instruments and by the carving

cooperatives of eastern Africa. Because of over harvesting this wood is now

becoming threatened and several international groups are working towards

instituting programs for its sustainable use.

 

In 2001 Mr. Chuwa received a grant from the Charles A. and Anne

Morrow Lindbergh Foundation  which was targeted

at educational and tree planting programs for African blackwood.

 

Bette Stockbauer

Director/US Co-Coordinator

African Blackwood Conservation Project