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.
TANZANIA: SEBASTIAN CHUWA WINS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD DURING OLYMPIC CEREMONIES
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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.
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.
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 has also co-founded the African Blackwood Conservation Project
(ABCP), 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 devoted to educational and tree
planting programs for African blackwood.