30 Nov 2020

 A significant proportion of land has already been degraded in the last two decades, with at least one out of every five hectors of the earth’s vegetative surface already showing declining trends in productivity.

This was said by Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East, Mr Yandani Boko, during Cresta Hotels National Tree Planting Day, on November 28.

Degraded land, Mr Boko said, threatened food security, as it had serious implications on the lives of thousands of Batswana who depended on agriculture for their livelihood. 

“We will end up and farming on degraded land. 

Therefore, as a complementary measure, not as an alternative, we need to find ways and means to sustain and increase trees in our community and be players,” he said.

Mr Boko emphasised the need to restore and protect forestry, as the most important source of carbon store. 

Successful restoration of the forests, he said, would generate a wide range of benefits, not only to Batswana, but also to the global community. 

“Today’s commemoration is a vital one, because it was designed to serve us by disseminating the message regarding the importance of planting trees. 

Without trees, global warming and its detrimental effects will continue threatening human life itself. 

The health of our planet is essential to our health, wellbeing and future as trees are an essential part of our lives. 

I am saying that because scientifically, facts have proven that a healthy environment leads to improved air and water quality,” stated Mr Boko.

He said trees were a symbol of dignity and therefore, urged all citizens to attach a great significance to the issue of environmental protection by going all out to plant more trees.

Mahalapye West Member of Parliament also took the opportunity to condemn the increasing number of gender-based violence cases in the country. 

He pleaded with perpetrators to refrain from such inhumane behaviour by showing respect and honouring their partners. 

Cresta Mahalapye general manager, Mr Cornelius Musubia said forest restoration was a path to recovery and wellbeing. 

Mr Musubia said all the 11 Cresta Hotels in Botswana found it necessary to partake in forest conservation by planting 1 500 indigenous trees nationwide.  

“Our environment is important to us, not only locally, but everywhere in the country. 

So, today is the time to focus on our environment and the forest at large. 

As a responsible corporate citizen, Cresta Hotels is alive to the environment in which we operate. 

One of our core ethos is environmental protection and as a demonstration of our commitment in 2020, we will be planting 1 500 indigenous trees nationwide,” stated Mr Musubia.

For her part, the Department of Forestry and Range Resources officer, Ms Keanyatse Seme stressed the need to create awareness on planting of trees to reduce depletion of the forest and range resources.

“Through this annual tree planting day commemoration, we want to help reclaim the degraded lands, as a way to conserve the environment,” she said.

Mahalapye deputy chief, Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe expressed a concern about those recklessly cutting down trees. 

“I believe it is high time we encouraged everyone who cuts down a tree to immediately plant another. 

That is the only way we will succeed in protecting and conserving the forest,” he said.

The nine indigenous trees planted by Cresta Mahalapye are; motha, moreketu, monepenepe, motsentsela, moretologa, modumela, mosikiri, motlopi and morula. 

Mr Boko planted a morula tree, while Mr Musubia planted a mosikiri tree. ends