ABCP Progress Report

October 1, 2007 - The Yahoo! Green Icon Challenge, a contest by yahoo.com to solicit designs for new icons that will be used by Yahoo! in promoting environmentally friendly products, services, and ideas for viewers to implement to make a positive difference in the challenge to address global climate change, has chosen Kristian Mohl's design for its runner-up award. Kristian has chosen the ABCP as the conservation organization to receive the prize of $5,000 that Yahoo! is donating to the contest winner's charity of choice.

September, 2007 - Funding from contributions donated to the Good Gifts Catalog during the first half of 2007 funds the planting of approximately 3,000 mpingo trees, making a total of over 21,000 trees that are funded by their donations.

June 2, 2007 - Sebastian Chuwa awarded the J. Sterling Morton Award, the top honor given by The National Arbor Day Foundation, at ceremonies at Nebraska City, Nebraska.

March, 2007 - Funding from contributions donated to the Good Gifts Catalog during the last half of 2006 funds the planting of approximately 18,000 mpingo trees.

November, 2006 - Sebastian Chuwa named as one of three runnerups for the annual World Savers Enviromental Award from the Condé Nast Traveler magazine in its November, 2006 issue.

October, 2006 - The Cottonwood Foundation grants funding to the ABCP for purchasing sunshade netting for rebuilding the original nursery shelter at the Moshi Mpingo Plot, destroyed in a storm in the spring of the year. Also funded is fencing to fence in an additional acre of land behind the MMP which was given to the ABCP to use for conservation purposes by the local village committee.

March, 2006 - The Green Garden Women's Group receives a grant from New England Biolabs Foundation for various self-help projects including planting mpingo trees.

October, 2005 - The Cottonwood Foundation grants funding to the ABCP for doubling the size of the nursery shelters at the Moshi Mpingo Plot by building a new shelter.

Jan 15, 2005 - The Fonga Women's Group receives a grant from New England Biolabs Foundation for implementing sustainable development projects and mpingo planting programs.

Sept. 8, 2004 - In ceremonies at Sungu Village, the ABCP celebrated the planting of a million trees under its stewardship.

October, 2004 - The Cottonwood Foundation grants funding to the ABCP for finishing up the shelter for workers and tools and supplies at the Moshi Mpingo Plot.

October, 2003 - The Cottonwood Foundation grants funding to the ABCP for a shelter for workers and tools and supplies at the Moshi Mpingo Plot.

October 9, 2003 - The ABCP is recognized with a letter of determination by the US Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, after a 4-year trial period.

Oct. 22, 2002 - Rolex Awards for Enterprise announced in London with Sebastian Chuwa chosen as an Associate Laureate. The prize money received at a ceremony in London on Nov. 6 will be used to further the projects he has begun with the Lindbergh Grant in 2002.

Summer, 2002 - Community Management of Protected Areas Conservation Project (COMPACT) initiated on Mt. Kilimanjaro by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Foundation (UNF). Sebastian works as liaison between program officials and community leaders to help in instituting poverty abatement and sustainable development projects on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

May, 2002 - Sebastian attends the UN sponsored "High Summit Conference for Africa" in Nairobi, Kenya.

May, 2002 - The Cottonwood Foundation grants funding to the ABCP for a computer to make educational environmental videos.

April, 2002 - The Mpingo Women's Group receives a grant from the New England Biolabs Foundation for implementing sustainable development projects and mpingo planting programs in Kikafu chini, south of Moshi.

April, 2002 - In celebration of Earth Day the US embassy in Dar es Salaam asks Sebastian to be a member of a panel discussion focusing on sustainable development.

February, 2002 - The Salt Lake Olympic Committee presents Sebastian with the "Spirit of the Land" award during Olympic ceremonies in Salt Lake City, Utah.

October, 2001 – Sebastian attends Fauna and Flora International (FFI) conference in Dar es Salaam. FFI, with a grant from the German government, is spearheading efforts to investigate certification and sustainable harvesting practices for mpingo. Sebastian delivers an address describing the work of the ABCP.

July, 2001 – British Petroleum awards second fuel donation to support Sebastian's work.

June, 2001 – Sebastian attends a meeting of foresters and representatives of the timber industry from northern Tanzania. Addresses the group about the international importance of African blackwood as a commercial species and outlines the work of the ABCP.

May 29, 2001 – Article by Mr. Charles Mmbaga of British Petroleum entitled "Chuwa: The Man Behind the Mpingo Project" is published in The Guardian, a leading Dar es Salaam newspaper.

May, 2001 – Terry Harnwell and John Parkin, of www.africanconservation.com, design a website for the Kilimanjaro Environmental Conservation Management Trust Fund: www.kilimanjarotrust.org.

April, 2001– Sebastian attends UNEP seminar in Mombasa, Kenya and presents information about his youth education projects in the Kilimanjaro area. He and 5 other participants from Tanzania draw up an action plan for environmental education programs in schools throughout Tanzania.

December, 2000 – Sebastian delivers an address about threats to mpingo and steps taken by the ABCP to replenish its numbers at a conference at Mweka College of Wildlife Management in Tanzania. The theme of the conference is "Wildlife Management in the New Millennium" and the guest speaker is Jane Goodall.

November, 2000-May, 2001 – Sebastian visits 34 schools and addresses students, teachers and parents about environmentalism and mpingo conservation. Sets up video showings for over 4000 students.

November, 2000 – The Kibosho East Environmental Choir records songs composed by Sixtus Koromba and Sebastian Chuwa at a recording studio in Arusha, Tanzania.

October, 2000 – Sebastian is elected to political office as Counselor of the district of Kibosho East.

October, 2000 – Second grant awarded by the Cottonwood Foundation for the installation of a pump and piping to carry water from the Kikafu River to the Moshi Mpingo Plot.

July 1, 2000 – Mr. Charles Mmbaga, Public Relations Officer for British Petroleum Tanzania, announces that BP Tanzania will support the travel expenses of Sebastian's work on the Lindbergh Foundation grant with a fuel donation.

June 29, 2000 – Press release issued by the Lindbergh Foundation announcing award of a grant to support Sebastian's ongoing tree replanting, to purchase video equipment and support his environmental educational outreach activities to local schools and communities.

Oct. 16, 1999 – ABCP is awarded a grant for its conservation activities in Tanzania by the Cottonwood Foundation. A 2000 liter water tower is purchased and installed in the Moshi Mpingo Plot. Photos of this project may be seen in Sebastian's Photo Journal – Index No. 4.

September 20, 1999 – Sebastian appointed by Regional Government Authority as Chairman of the Kilimanjaro Environmental Conservation Management Trust Fund. Because of this post he also becomes a member of the Regional Environmental Conservation Committee.

August 1999 – Mpingo seeds received in the US from Sebastian. Seeds to be distributed to those interested in experimenting with growing mpingo and to seed banks and agroforestry research centers in the Southwest US.

October, 1999 - The ABCP is granted non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the US Internal Revenue Service.

April 29, 1999 – The ABCP is incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas as a non-profit corporation.

April 27, 1999 – Domain name of www.blackwoodconservation.org established as new permanent URL for the ABCP website.

December 1998 – Work commences on transplanting the 15-month-old seedlings–46 townspeople have requested mpingo seedlings. Farmers who have requested plants transplant the young trees along field boundaries. With help from the Mpingo Clubs and villagers, 800 mpingos are replanted into the wild. On the one-acre plot 3000 Dovyalis plants, a bushy fruit-bearing shrub, are planted between the fence posts to form a permanent barrier when the fence posts deteriorate. Mpingos are planted into the one-acre plot in Moshi.

Summer and Fall of 1998 – Work begins on one-acre plot (fence built, ground cultivated) to prepare it to receive mature transplants.

August 1997 – This website activated to serve as an informational focal point for the ABCP.

August 1997 – Annual Report and Newsletter, chronicling the first year's experience of the ABCP, is mailed out to contributors and others with a connection to wood turning, conservation and the music trade.

Summer 1997 – Sebastian begins to establish Mpingo Clubs. Makes contacts with local people to find eventual placement for some of the young trees.

February 1997 – Sebastian plants first seedlings during spring rains.

Jan. 1997 – Sebastian gives short course in Moshi, instructing participants in how to take care of seeds, prepare seedbed and raise seedlings. Purchases garden equipment, constructs shelter for the seedlings, which need shade in the early months.

August 1996 – Sebastian makes preparations for first nursery. Clears brush and weeds from one-acre plot donated by friend to the project.

July 1996 – African Blackwood Conservation Project established as legal entity with county clerk of Travis County, Texas.

June 1996 – First fundraiser mailed out. Contribution sent to establish bank account for ABCP in Arusha, Tanzania.

June 1995 – First communication with Sebastian. Project proposed, various details concerning project discussed, methods of communication and funds transfer resolved.

THE PROJECT PHOTO JOURNAL 1997 ANNUAL REPORT 1999 ANNUAL REPORT 2000 ANNUAL REPORT

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Last revised 22 October 2007.