This quotation from Attenborough seems particularly apt. And comes with a massive “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” to Sir David on his 100th year. His message is: “People have to take note of it – if people notice it, they will begin to love it – if people love it, they’ll want to protect it. And if people protect it, we’ll be on a path to nature recovery”
Many people asked me “Why a Mural? When money is needed for computers, internet and solar power” it’s a good question. Attenborough answers it.
Sir David was talking in London about biodiversity there but he might as well have been standing here in CHIMANIMANI, Zimbabwe pointing at our beautiful Biodiversity Mural created by local artist Webster Mubayirenyi.
Zimbabwe is famous for its fabulous wild life especially the iconic species such as Elephants, Lions and Rhino. But the steady and mostly silent disappearance of hundreds of small species which hold together critical ecological systems continues throughout this beautiful country.
Some details from the mural – click on the images for larger versions
Unrelenting and often unregulated activity in gold mining and commercial farming, especially tobacco production, wreak daily havoc on our natural ecosystems, even encroaching on protected areas such as National Parks.
Local people in many of these areas are uncomfortable with the obvious destruction they witness daily. Children and livestock falling into pits carelessly left by miners or their woodlands stripped bare to cure tobacco. They are unprepared for these dangers. Few Headmen and Chiefs possess the knowledge needed to effectively explain to potential miners or commercial farming operators why their enterprise poses long term risks to their Communities. Opportunities for livelihood development based on sound ecological principles are lost.
To combat this we in Chimanimani are striving to use the age old method of “INSPIRED TEACHING.” Bringing fun, music and passionate experts together to provide our Community access to the knowledge of how ecological processes relate to human health, safety and security. This will be the Central work of the CHIMANIMANI Community Biodiversity Learning Centre.
We are making steady progress and with help from people such as yourself we can get there faster.
Donate at our Go Fund Me fundraising page – click here https://www.gofundme.com/f/zimbabwes-first-biodiversity-learning-centre
The steel frame for our new benches being fabricated
The benches being prepared for painting with pink wood primer
