In 2024, ConservationVIP, generous donors, and the local community continued the projects we started in 2023 on our Tanzania Volunteer Trip, as well as, funding and installing a water catchment system at Gekrum Village. The primary goal for our Tanzania volunteer efforts are to plant trees to help with reforestation and mitigate the effects of desertification in the communities of Gekrum Village in Karatu and Rau Forest Reserve in Moshi. Volunteers also help restore and clean up trails in the Rau Forest Reserve in Moshi. In 2023, our volunteer group planted 1410 trees and 400 grasses. We are happy to report through our local partners that the community has continued to care for the plantings, and they have grown substantially.
ConservationVIP with the help of generous donors, donated more than $3,000 to fund a new water catchment system at Gekrum Village. During our 2023 trip, we experienced the challenge of getting water to the planting site. Our partner, Maggie Simbeye of Maggie’s Tours and The Dare Women’s Foundation, worked with the Gekrum Village Community to purchase and install a water catchment system. This system not only supports the reforestation work but also brings clean water to the community who lives near the project site which sits on top of a hill.
In Rau Forest in Moshi, 65 % of the plantings are thriving despite drought conditions, because the community has continued to protect and care for the saplings. Trees and grasses planted at the local water spring, Njoro Juu Spring, have begun to enhance the Rau Forest’s microclimates and provide improved habitat for local flora, fauna and community. Our trail work has enabled improved access for continued community conservation activities and ecotourism within the Rau Forest.
Our reforestation and trail work projects in Tanzania are helping to support the biodiversity of the area and helping to sustain and improve livelihoods of flora, fauna and the people that live in these communities.
You can read detailed reports on the continuing progress of these projects below. We are grateful to Maggie Simbeye of Maggie’s Tours and Erick Urassa of Joining Safaris for providing these reports and for partnering with ConservationVIP on these important projects.
As Erick’s report concludes:
The Rau Forest Conservation Project has successfully demonstrated how collaborative efforts between international volunteers and local communities can restore degraded ecosystems and promote environmental awareness. By combining meaningful conservation activities with cultural exchange, this initiative has inspired participants and local stakeholders alike to work toward sustainable development.
Read Maggie Simbeye’s Progress Report (Maggie shared some great photos).
Read Erick Urassa’s Progress Report.
Thinking about traveling with us to Tanzania? Program Manager Kelly McCoy wrote a Blog post sharing some of her reasons why you should sign up for this trip. Read Kelly’s Blog Post.
Thank you donors, Maggie, Erick, and Kelly!