March 21 – National Tree Planting Day in Lesotho

n

n
n
nLesotho, in southern Africa, is covered with savanna (grasslands) and low-growing alpine vegetation high in the mountains. There just aren’t a lot of trees.
n
n
n

n

n

n

nEver since Europeans arrived in this region in the early 1800s, there has been a desire to plant and grow trees for fruit, for wood for building and fuel, and for shade. 
n
nChanging natural environments to suit humans is a tricky proposition, of course. There are often unintended bad results of meddling, and sometimes fighting nature means throwing a lot of money and effort at something that doesn’t end up working out.
n
nStill, keeping these complexities in mind, it’s interesting to note that Lesotho has a goal of gaining 5% tree cover in the nation by 2020 – and to achieve that, the Basotho have to plant 1,500,000 trees per year!
n
nWow!
n
n

nMaseru, the capital of Lesotho, now has a fair number of trees.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPeople living in rural areas have planted a few trees near their homes, as well.
n
n
n
n
nRemember, Lesotho is a small nation entirely surrounded by South Africa.
n
n

n

n
n

 
n
n
nAlso on this date:

nInternational Day for the Elimination of Racism

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n
• nMarch holidays

  n

n

• nMarch birthdays

  n

n

• nHistorical anniversaries in March

  n

n

n

n

n
• nApril holidays

  n

n

• nApril birthdays

  n

n

• nHistorical anniversaries in April
  

  n

n

n

n