15 Aug 2019

Botswana is becoming more vulnerable to disasters due to the effect of climate change.

This was said by the US Ambassador to Botswana Mr Graig Cloud during the launch of Trees for Life campaign on Tuesday.

The campaign was organised by Forest Conservation Botswana (FCB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Ambassador Cloud said the US supported initiatives mandated to protect human and wildlife from climate change.

He emphasised the need to ensure increased planting and protection of trees to reduce deforestation as the trees require extensive care similar to that of children.

FCB has a goal to plant 10 000 trees over the next year across the region in areas of Molepolole, Ramotswa, Palapye, Maun and Tsabong.

The initiative, Ambassador Cloud said, would be realised through the distribution of tree seedlings to new mothers or fathers upon discharge from health facilities, to plant in their respective homes and nurture the same way as their babies.

“By planting these trees, the parents are not only marking the birth of their children but will also be securing a greener future for them,” stated Mr Cloud.

Meanwhile, Molepolole North MP  Dr Tlamelo Mmatli expressed gratitude over the initiative which he said would immensely improve the environment from deforestation.

The MP encouraged mothers to take the campaign seriously and ensure that the 40 trees donated to their babies during the launch were well taken care of..

Dr Mmatli called on community members to take advantage of the campaign  and make a meaningful contribution to the transformation of Molepolole through constant monitoring of the planted trees.

He encouraged them to support the FCB project that goes along with that of Mohumagadi Mma-Tumagaole’s initiative of a ‘Green Molepolole’ which focuses on issues of the environment in relations to tree planting.

He challenged the organisation to devise some mechanism to ensure monitoring was done successfully which would contribute to the success of the project.

FCB campaign was held under the theme: Newlife Newtree, towards mitigating the effects of climate change, with the seven-month-old infant Shatho Tshethana as the face of FCB campaign.

Presenting the project overview, the FCB CEO Mr Joshua Moloi briefed the audience about the mandate of FCB, which was established in 2008 to administer the Tropical Forest Conservation Fund (TFCA) following the signing of the agreement between the government of Botswana and the US in 2006.

He, therefore said the organization continued to deliver its mandate efficiently, based on a clean financial audit report from independent auditors.  

He, however, highlighted a number of challenges impacting on the smooth operation of the project that included, utilisation of the grant fund by grantees, poor quality of projects proposals resulting in few grant approvals as well as lack of skills in project and financial management by community-based organisations.

The project is reportedly doing well in Molepolole and Maun as stated by Dr Lebogang  Mokotedi and Onkageletse Thapelo from District Health Management Teams (DHMT) in Kweneng East and Maun health facilities.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Kgari III expressed gratitude over the initiative and appealed to parents to support the initiative and make sure it achieves the intended goal. ENDS