The rainy season is well on its way. Crops are in and growing. Erosion from the violent rains this time of year are in control. Roads and paths are now waterways, rivers and streams are running muddy and eating away banks that are exposed because of overcutting and total removal of any vegetation along their banks. The goodness from the soil is working its way to the Indian Ocean via the Zambezi River. The answer? Trees; lots of them. Along every waterway. Along exposed hillsides overcut for field extensions, charcoal and timber. Planting trees to be used for firebreaks, wind breaks, firewood, charcoal, hoe and axe handles, house timbers, fences, timber export and the list goes on and on. One more time, the answer? Trees! That is where seeds come into play. It takes a lot of planning and logistics to get those seeds into the ground. Seeds delivered to village nurseries and communities. Pine seeds from Petauke to Kasama, African mahogany from Livingstone to Petauke. Seeds to our demonstration plantation outside Lusaka. Seeds to Rwanda for a project there.
Let us not forget the education side of things. People must be educated on why these problems exist and what can be done about them.