25 Apr 2021

Dikgosi in Ngamiland region have been applauded for their role in conservation.

Speaking at a donation of 100 tree seedlings from Climate and Life to dikgosi of Maun on Friday, principal forest and range resources officer II in Maun Ms Gosetseng Balopi commended dikgosi for ensuring that forests were well-looked-after from the past years, a role they collaboratively played with government.

Ms Balopi said the government had a target to plant three million trees by the year 2023 and therefore said efforts by independent organisations such as Climate and Life were commendable.

 She said dikgosi should be hailed for embracing the initiative.

She noted that tree planting was a welcome development at a time when the world was grappling with effects of climate change. 

She observed that trees helped minimise climate change effects, provide food, shade for both people and animals.

Climate and Life founder Mr Seloilwe Seloilwe said the non-profit organisation was formed in 2017 with an aim to address climate change, hence the organization came up with a national project tree planting initiative dubbed 10 per week 2023. 

He said through the initiative they managed to plant trees in some parts of the country such as Okavango district, Maun and Gaborone.

“About 890 trees have been planted so far in collaboration with the private sector and other stakeholders,” he said. 

Mr Seloilwe said their target for Maun, where the organisation is based, was 150 000 tree seedlings to be planted in Maun West and Maun East constituencies each.

He said through the project they aimed to create employment for young people to assist in the initiative.

Regarding dikgosi initiative, he said the aim was to involve the community in the project, adding that through the assistance of Crocodile Camp and Spa they managed to donate 100 tree seedlings to dikgosi in Maun to be planted at their respective wards. 

In his welcome remarks, Batawana representative Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe thanked Climate and Life for the tree seedlings donations.

Kgosi Letsholathebe noted that trees were important as they acted as wind breakers amongst other uses.  He therefore urged fellow dikgosi to ensure that the trees donated were taken care of. Ends