Creating positive, lasting change to the environment is no easy feat. It takes dedication, consideration and regular participation from all involved. Protecting nature’s trees is just one way for a community to enrich their local biodiversity and safeguard the environment. However, according to WWF, a leading global environmental charity, more than 15 billion trees each year are cut down, with 100,000 square km of forest area lost per year, demonstrating a catastrophic loss of forestry worldwide.
Across the world, there are a variety of initiatives that set out to protect the world’s environment. One of which is World Environment Day, which the Religious Sisters of Charity regularly participate in. Originally established by the United Nations in 1972, World Environment Day is the largest international environmental event worldwide with millions of people and organisations participating worldwide. This year’s theme focused on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration”
The Sisters’ ambition to improve the environment in Zambia’s local communities first started in 2023, when they started the Care for the Earth project. The project brought together nine secondary schools and 350 pupils as under the stewardship of the RSC across Zambia and more than 520 adults, to educate students on the importance of tree planting and caring for the environment as well as informing them of the effects and ramifications of climate change.
The schools involved included:
• St. Clare’s Girls School, a School for the sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in Lusaka,
• Roma Girls Secondary School who collaborates with ABSA and the Plant a Million Trees Organisation,
• Shitima Secondary School in Kabwe, conducted by the Caritas Girls School Teachers and Pupils.
• St. Michael’s Primary School – Chivuna Mazabuka
• St. Edmund’s Secondary School – Mazabuka, Christian Brothers
• Chikuni Girls School – Monze Religious Sisters of Charity
• James Corboy School – Holy Spirit Sisters
• Mazabuka Girls School – Congregation of Immaculate Conception
• Changa Changa Primary School – Christian Brothers
This education and awareness programme culminated in a tree planting programme where approximately 450 trees of native species such as lemon, orange, avocado and mango trees, which were planted across the nine schools under the guidance of Sister Kayula Lesa and Sr Patience Shinondo. The project brings many benefits – the trees reduce pollutions by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, provides incomes through the sale of its byproducts, and provide foliage for livestock.
As well as planting trees in collaboration with schools across Zambia, the Religious Sisters of Charity also planted 200 pine trees to mark the opening of a new parish, Anthonia Fasani Parish in Pamodzi, Ndola with then Bishop, Bejamin Phiri attending the ceremony, bringing the total number of trees planted to 650. Since the tree planting ceremony, Bishop Phiri and his diocese have been promoted to Arch-Bishop and Archdiocese.
Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration which has been dubbed as a “rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. The UN created 17 SGDs with the aim of providing “peace and prosperity for people and the planet” while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests.
We can all play an important role in safeguarding the earth’s flora and fauna. While World Environment Day has come and gone, any day is the perfect one to contribute to protecting the environment. One can tend to garden and plant seeds, register for local beach and other area clean ups and recycle properly to reduce pollution and promote a circular economy. As the UN say, this is “our land, our future”, it is our duty to ensure the earth is in its best condition for future generations. Join us in this Prayer for the Environment.
Prayer for the Environment 
O Lord, grant us the grace to grow deeper in our respect of
and care for your Creation.
Lord, hear our prayer.
O Lord, help us to recognize the sacredness of all of your
creatures as signs of your wondrous love.
Lord, hear our prayer.
O Lord, help us turn from the selfish consumption of
resources meant for all and to see the impacts of our
choices on the poor and vulnerable.
Lord, hear our prayer.
