By: Daisy Moraa
Worth Noting:
- The difference between planting and growing trees may seem subtle but is vital for long-term environmental sustainability. Tree planting, as typically practiced, involves planting saplings during celebratory events, which are then often forgotten. The problem with this is that many of these trees fail to thrive due to neglect. Whether due to a lack of water, poor soil conditions, or encroachment by weeds, the seedlings are left to fend for themselves, reducing their chances of survival.
- The planet’s future hinges on the effectiveness of reforestation efforts. Trees play a critical role in the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, providing habitat for wildlife, and preventing soil erosion. Without careful management and nurturing of these trees, efforts at mitigating climate change can fall short of their potential impact.
As the world confronts the realities of climate change, environmental conservation has taken center stage in many global discussions. One of the most widely recognized efforts in combating climate change is tree planting. However, an essential yet often overlooked aspect is tree growing, which involves not just planting but also nurturing trees to maturity. This distinction is what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Club at Rongo University seeks to emphasize, particularly in their activities during the commemoration of National Mazingira Day.
On this day, the Rongo University SDGs Club, specifically the Sustainable Development Girls Club, did not engage in the typical ceremonial tree planting often seen during such celebrations. Instead, they focused on tree growing, an approach that goes beyond the act of putting seedlings in the ground. The club members, under the banner of climate action (Sustainable Development Goal No. 13), revisited trees that had been planted during previous tree planting days, tending to them to ensure their continued growth and survival.
Tree Planting vs. Tree Growing
The difference between planting and growing trees may seem subtle but is vital for long-term environmental sustainability. Tree planting, as typically practiced, involves planting saplings during celebratory events, which are then often forgotten. The problem with this is that many of these trees fail to thrive due to neglect. Whether due to a lack of water, poor soil conditions, or encroachment by weeds, the seedlings are left to fend for themselves, reducing their chances of survival.
Growing trees, on the other hand, is a more holistic approach. It requires ongoing commitment to not just planting, but also ensuring that the trees survive and mature. This means watering the saplings, weeding, pruning, and protecting them from any form of harm. This is exactly what the SDGs Club students from Rongo University have committed to, recognizing that the health of the environment depends not only on the number of trees planted but also on the survival and maturity of these trees.
The Importance of Tree Growing
The planet’s future hinges on the effectiveness of reforestation efforts. Trees play a critical role in the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, providing habitat for wildlife, and preventing soil erosion. Without careful management and nurturing of these trees, efforts at mitigating climate change can fall short of their potential impact.
“We need to get the difference,” says Wafula Meshack l noone of the club members. “We are not just supposed to plant trees, but to grow trees.” This shift in focus is a direct response to the pattern where trees are planted ceremoniously, but no one returns to ensure they thrive. It is a waste of resources to keep planting trees if they aren’t allowed to mature and fulfill their environmental role.
In Line with SDG 13: Climate Action
Rongo University SDGs Club’s initiative is directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goal No. 13: Climate Action. This goal emphasizes the need to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. One of the key ways to do this is through reforestation and afforestation, both of which are important components of reducing carbon levels in the atmosphere.
However, what sets the Rongo University club apart is their commitment to ensuring that the trees they plant survive. On Mazingira Day, instead of planting new trees, the students revisited trees from previous events, weeding around them and pruning where necessary. This attention to detail helps increase the chances of the trees’ survival, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to environmental restoration efforts.
Moreover, their actions are part of a broader initiative to engage students and the community in understanding the long-term commitment required for environmental conservation. By focusing on growing trees, they are setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship for the rest of the community.
The Challenges of Tree Growing
Of course, tree growing is not without its challenges. It requires consistent attention and resources, including water, labor for weeding and pruning, and protection against threats such as livestock or natural calamities. These are obstacles that many communities face, which can make tree growing seem less attractive than the one-time event of tree planting. However, the SDGs Club at Rongo University is undeterred. They understand that the short-term effort invested in growing trees yields long-term benefits that far outweigh the initial challenges.
The club hopes to inspire more institutions, both within and outside of Kenya, to adopt this practice. If more tree planting initiatives were followed by sustained efforts to ensure tree survival, the environmental impact could be immense. It’s not enough to ceremoniously plant a tree and move on; there has to be a real commitment to nurturing these trees to full maturity.
Growing a Culture of Sustainability
In shifting the conversation from tree planting to tree growing, the Rongo University SDGs Club is fostering a culture of environmental responsibility that prioritizes sustainability. Their hands-on approach teaches an important lesson: that true conservation requires more than symbolic gestures. It demands commitment, patience, and a willingness to get involved beyond the initial planting phase.
By ensuring that the trees they planted in previous years survive and grow, these students are making a tangible contribution to the fight against climate change. They are also setting a precedent for future environmental efforts, highlighting the fact that growing trees is a vital, often overlooked aspect of conservation.
As we reflect on the broader implications of tree growing, it becomes clear that this shift in perspective is necessary if we are to tackle the pressing environmental issues of our time. Rongo University’s SDGs Club is leading by example, showing that tree growing, not just planting, is the way forward for a sustainable and greener future.
Their efforts serve as a reminder to all that the real work begins after the saplings are in the ground. Only through sustained care can trees grow and thrive, ultimately benefiting the environment and supporting life on Earth.
Daisy Moraa
Rongo University