09 Dec 2021

Restoration of forestlands and degraded areas will improve livelihoods and wellbeing of the people, said the District Coordinator for Forestry and Range Resources, Mr Desmond Serero.

Officiating at the Central District tree planting day held at Mogapi on Wednesday, Mr Serero said there was need to make deliberate efforts to plant trees as investing in land restoration and tree planting activities was important to improve livelihoods.

He said planting of more trees would help to increase carbon storage thereby maintaining the earth temperature to the tolerable levels.

Mr Serero said that called for cooperation and support at international, national and local level from organisations such as Village Development Committees (VDC), private sector, farmers committees, academic institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Engaging local stakeholders in decisions, he said would help in the development and implementation of actions that increased resilience.

Mr Serero noted that providing Mogapi community with shade trees would go a long way in mitigating climate change effects and contributing to food security for local communities.

“Communities as custodians of natural resources should play a leading role in forest restoration efforts as they are the most affected by the adverse impacts of climate change.”

The day was held under the theme ‘Forest restoration: A path to recovery and well-being.’

He said from 2019 to date over 587 000 trees had been planted across the country with over 80 000 trees planted in the Central district whilst Mogapi village received 14 000 tree seedlings.

For his part, Mogapi village leadership Kgosi Ishmael Ditsele urged his community to take care of the tree seedlings donated to them by the Department of Forestry and Range Resources.

He said the village leadership including VDC would see to it that those trees were given enough care to serve the purpose they were planted for.

He also implored the community to take the COVID-19 vaccine and continue adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. BOPA