Mount Kilimanjaro, or ‘shining mountain’ as the name translates in Swahili, will soon be shining no more as global warming melts its remaining snowcap. Of even greater concern is the loss of the forests below the peak. The trees act as a giant sponge, collecting the droplets of water from the mists that shroud the mountain, feeding the springs and rivers in the plains below and keeping alive the teeming wildlife in the big game parks. Decreased rainfall and rising temperatures as a result of climate change are affecting the density of the trees and the efficiency of the water collection system. Forest fires, tree cutting, and invading elephants are all adding to the damage which could destroy this natural water catchment.