Dodoma, Tanzania, April 21 (IANS) Tanzanian authorities on Thursday launched a nationwide special campaign to clean up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa which attracts more than 50,000 tourists annually.
The campaign dubbed 'leave the mountain clean, conserve environment so that they can protect you' came at the time when the Africa's roof is overwhelmed with a number of challenges such as land degradation, non availability of good water, loss of biodiversity, frequent forest fires and pollution, Xinhua news agency reported.
Speaking at the official launch of the campaign, Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadick said the mountain is an important cornerstone when it comes to Tanzania's tourism industry.
The mountain, which is a biosphere reserve and a world heritage site, generates nearly $30 million income annually and employs more than 300,000 people.
"We want this campaign to be successful and sensitise climbers to respect and conserve the environment in the Kilimanjaro National Park," the regional chief said, urging tour operators to take responsibilities of conserving environment of the park, which is the lifeline for many people.
Sadick described Mount Kilimanjaro as one of the national values, vowing to take stern measures against illegal loggers in the park.
