| Planting the mpingo seedlings at the
Makuyuni Mpingo Site. The polythene tubing is removed from the root clump and the
seedlings are placed in holes along with a plastic water bottle filled with water. A small
pinhole is punched in the bottle to allow water to seep out during the dry season and give
the mpingo seedlings an early boost in their growth cycle. Mpingo are hardy and can
survive drought, but these young and tender plants will have a better chance of long-term
survival if they can put on a lot of early top and root growth. Some moisture from the
water bottle will help them in their first year. Sebastian devised this planting method as
an aid to plant survival during the dry season. Northern Tanzania has rainy and dry
seasons, with "short rains" being the lighter rainy season during November and
December, sometimes starting in October, and "long rains" during April and May.
This leaves a long dry spell of up to 4-5 months between May and October, and this is the
reason the water bottles are being used. The water bottle and tree roots are completely
covered with soil. Covering with soil like this protects the water bottle from UV
radiation, and the plastic bottles last for several years and can be reused. These bottles
were collected from hotels in Moshi and recycled for this use, so instead of ending up in
a landfill, they are being buried with intent, will serve a useful purpose, and can be dug
up and reused as the trees outgrow the need for the extra water provided by the bottle. 10
March 2008. |
