Human beings leave trails in nature.  As a major player in the natural ecosystem, humans wield immense power with their science and technology.  Nonetheless, earth can strike back in protest.  A whole species of dinosaurs has been wiped out before.

Whereas everyone can celebrate today’s material progress, at the same time we must agree that our environment is altering.  Insects still buzz; gazzelles hop in green pastures, plants offer flowery smiles; children dance in the rain, rocks breathe again after cold showers, and mountains whiten their heads with snow in appreciation.  Yet, current incidents interrupt this liturgy of nature unceremoniously.  While the “earth-community” is increasingly concerned, many remain ignorant -- even now.

In this article, I will discuss possible causes of the dwindling snowcap on Mount Kilimanjaro, in Northern Tanzania

SOME FACTS

Since its mapping in 1912, Mount Kilimanjaro has shed-off approximately 80% of its snowcap.  Last November, leading environmentalists and government representatives met in Morocco to finalize issues relating to the Kyoto protocol.

In an attempt to influence the decisions of the members, Greenpeace chose to demonstrate that the biggest of Africa’s snowcapped mountains -- Mount Kilimanjaro -- was showing discontent and getting angry.  Standing on the mountain at 5,000 ft, Joris Thijsen said:

This part where I am sitting used to be ice only ten years ago.  Now the ice has retreated about 10 metres.  It’s gone, it’s all melted away!

Most of the mountain guides based at Keys Hotel in the town of Moshi (a major launch pad for mountain climbers) are worried about their source of income.  One guide told me:

Ten years ago, we would order drinks in the bar without a second thought since there was no question we were in high demand as tourist guides.  Today things have changed, we cannot order drinks without first checking the condition of the mountain and our own check book.

A great number of mountain guides I interviewed agree that 12 to 15 years ago, they would encounter snow at Horombo Point, (altitude 3,720m).  Currently, they meet the first snow only above Gilman’s Point (altitude 5,685m).

Based on the current rate at which Mount Kilimanjaro sheds its snow, Greenpeace and other environmentalists projected that by the year 2020, the mountain will have removed its cap in sheer protest.  In the process, people living on and near the mountain will suffer and this will eventually end in social upheaval and loss of life.

The effect of the disappearing snowcap of Mount Kilimanjaro has made a number of rivers in the region to dry up.  A survey conducted  by a team  of the  East

African Standard newspaper around the mountain shows that:

From the Mawenzi peak, the river flows of the Una, Monjo and Ona are no longer reliable.  The rivers Karanga, Weruweru and Kikafau, flowing from the Kibo peak, have also dried up.  Going further east towards the Rombo side of the mountain, the ice cap is completely gone.  Gone too is the giant river Ungwasi, a main source of water for the people of Rombo.

Though the devastating effects of climate change are obvious and far reaching, it is not easy to deal with the problem.  Proposed solutions often conflict with short-term interests.  But first, let us try to understand the grievances of Mount Kilimanjaro.

POSSIBLE CAUSES

The building sector, the furniture industry, paper manufacturing, and a series of other enterprises require wood.  Kibo Matches is one of the major companies in the region operating sawmills.  For the time being, wooden material may be attractive given its proximity and immediate availability.  Nevertheless, facts show that those carrying out logging do not see the urgency to seek alternative kinds of raw material.  In matches, for example, wax could be used in place of wooden sticks.

Logging eats up the forest.  This in turn shrinks the amount of rainfall and snow formation.  Scientists warn that a lowering amount  of  snow   diminishes  the reflective capacity of the mountain peak.  This means that it absorbs more heat and causes the icecap to melt.  The Member of Parliament for Moshi town and the owner of Keys Hotel insisted that, unless the government closes down sawmills in the area, the forests, the snowcap and the tourist business would not survive.

Though the need of wood for human survival is clear, the question of the amount needed without offsetting nature’s equilibrium has to be settled.  The Kyoto Protocol and other such international conventions must be taken seriously.  Unless these issues are addressed, the mountain’s discontent will continue to turn into anger.

POLLUTION

Harmful substances in air, water and soil destabilize an intricate natural equilibrium.  The pumping of toxic wastes into rivers, lakes and seas not only directly endangers the aquatic life; it also proves a potential threat to life on land.  Water is life and indispensable for all living creatures.

Is it not ironical and puzzling, that the human species, against their better knowledge, does not seem to care about the conservation of water reservoirs and catchment areas?

The sight of dead and dying fish, and of water blackened by oils from industries and marine vessels, is a sad sign that the “earth-community” is tying its own hanging noose.  Worse is the fact that this will continue to be so unless we care for water.  How this may be possible since we have to promote social and economic development through industries and transport on water.

However, certain questions must never be overlooked.  For instance, at what cost should economic development be pursued and achieved?  Must the human race obstinately pursue socio-economic development at whatever expense -- even at the expense of the very lives they try to improve?

Such questions compel a serious re-thinking of the concept of human development, especially in the field of technology.  It is time Africa thought of relocating industries away from water reservoirs and of using alternative means to achieve development as a way forward towards water conservation.

GLOBAL WARMING

Yet, even if there were success in avoiding water pollution, this would be just the beginning of a serious struggle.  Our planet faces other pollution threats with potentially devastating effects.  The burning of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere.  These gases contribute to global warming.  The increase in temperatures expand the oceans and causes polar ice sheets to melt, increasing the sea level.

When the global warming is at its peak, the consequences are life threatening.  Not only would the earth suffer an unprecedented deluge that would drown all life in it, but also the earth’s service would gradually turn into a boiling cauldron, cooking the dying and dead members of the earth’s community.  With rising global temperatures, our Mount Kibo will be among the first to feel the heat.

POPULATION PRESSURE

There should be a proportional balance between the members of an ecosystem.  But when the population of one species shoots above the threshold level demanded by such equilibrium, undesired feedback mechanisms will rise up in the system.  This is currently being experienced.

In certain areas, the human population has outnumbered the resources required to maintain a healthy balance.  A demand for more food, for instance, has led to the exhaustion of the members of the “soil community.”

Proliferation of exhaust fumes in the transportation sector, increased production of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and other CFC compounds.  Energy needs forced us to build nuclear reactors -- Chernobyl disasters notwithstanding.  Elsewhere, security issues have even led to production of highly radioactive weapons.

Last February, North Korea pulled out of the Non-Nuclear Proliferation treaty and the Iran’s Head of State announced the mining of uranium to feed nuclear reactors.  Most of such actions deplete the ozone (O3) layer that shields the earth from harmful radiations and from direct heat from bodies outside our atmosphere. 

The issue at hand is not easy to handle.  Some ask the question: do we slow down population growth while looking for alternative means to meet our demands, or do we allow a population explosion?  Whatever the answer at a global level, on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro at least, a growing competition for land and resources has, for some time, forced residents to emigrate, especially the youth.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate modelers argue that patterns of climatic change are a natural phenomenon, and that human beings may not have much to do with it.  Earth scientists argue that during the Cenozoic era, the earth’s polar ice caps were non-existent.  During a meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver, earth scientists argued that 55,000,000 years ago, the earth was about 5ºC warmer than it is today. 

That period of global warming lasted about 150,000 years.  Though the current global warming is mainly attributed to the greenhouse effect and production of clouds of CO2, scientists agree that a trend of global warming will continue even with a drop in the consumption of fossil fuel to minimal levels.

Unfortunately, those climate modelers have not been able to tackle the issue of natural temperature variability.  Evidence shows that there have been rapid temperature changes in the last 10 years with the changes being more drastic and dramatic in high altitude regions such as the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Richard Dickson, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Science, contends that such deviations might be a result of “natural variability”.

CONCLUSION

Our planet is dynamic and evolving.  Every member of the “earth-community”   contributes  to the changes taking place and at the same time has to adapt to the changes caused by natural variability.  The contribution by members and the natural variability form a twin puzzle that cannot be either/or, but a conditional phenomenon.  The active participation of those endowed with reason ought to help other members without putting human interest first.  Every member of the “earth-community” ought to be seen as vital for the existence of all.  Consequently, justice and human rights are paramount for all.

The anger of Mount Kilimanjaro, expressed by shedding its snowcap, is not only affecting the Moshi community (soil, air, water, vegetation, animals, and human population) but the “earth-community” as a whole.

Unless the global community responds to the maximum of its abilities, there will be more losers than winners.  It should be stressed, however, that those directly concerned, especially the local government and policy makers, ought to respond more vigorously to the cry of the mountain.  Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case -- it is a tragedy!

Mûthûmbî wa Kîmani, S.J.
Jesuit Residence
Moshi, Tanzania