05 Oct 2020

Department of Forestry and Range Resources North West region has donated 200 trees to a climate and life organisation in Maun.

Speaking at the handing over, DFRR North West Coordinator, Mr Letsholo Dithapo said the donation was the department’s way of supporting efforts by the youthful organisation, which aimed to curb climate change and raise awareness on issues about the environment.

Mr Dithapo said the partnership with the Climate and Life organisation was for the Youth Against Global warming initiative week, adding that it would help the department achieve its mandate of community empowerment and tree planting, especially amongst young people.

He said the department was mandated to ensure conservation of natural resources and restoring the environment to its natural state.

He observed that the North West region would host the national tree day in November 2020, which would be turned into a tree planting month due to the coronavirus challenges.

The department  donated Mokutsomo or diospyros mispiliformis, which is an indigenous shade and fruits tree.

Climate and Life organisation founder, Mr Seloilwe Seloilwe said the club was founded in 2017, to raise environmental awareness and lobby for policies on environment as well as a green financial levy.

Mr Seloilwe said the club had planned to host a week-long event dubbed: Youth Against Global warming initiative.

Activities during the event would include poetry and drama, music and a cycling challenge, which was unfortunately affected by COVID-19.

However, he said the organisation resorted to a tree planting week and thus partnered with forestry department and Maun Technical College.

Mr Seloilwe observed that trees were a source of life as they provided fruits, shade and released oxygen.

Climate and Life organisation, he said was committed to a sustainable environment as espoused in Vision 2036, adding that the organisation would lobby government to facilitate a rain water harvesting culture in the country.

He said the donated trees would be distributed to Maun schools and village wards. ends