National events and ceremonies should begin with afforestation activities so as to nurture environment friendly societal norm: Ministry

On May 15, 2013

The Ministry of Agriculture said that national events and ceremonies should begin with plantation of tree seedlings so as to nurture environment friendly societal norm.

Asmara, 15 May 2013 – The Ministry of Agriculture said that national events and ceremonies should begin with plantation of tree seedlings so as to nurture environment friendly societal norm. It made the call at a joint conference by the National Forestry and Wildlife Authority, as well as the Ministry, which was conducted today targeting environmental conservation,

The participants of the conference including higher government and PFDJ officials, religious leaders, representatives of the Ministry’s regional offices and invited guests conducted extensive discussion on the current status of wildlife and vegetation in the country. Moreover, they further stressed that the remedy to this end is related to reinforcement of control mechanisms and drawing well-defined time dimension for the plans drawn up.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, pointed out that the vegetational coverage of the country has been showing acute decline, and that the environmental grace could be restored through sustaining community initiatives and ensuring behavioral change to this end. Moreover, he called on pertinent bodies to extend a helping hand in promoting use of the energy-conserving stove Adhanet so as to lower the current degree of the society’s reliance on firewood.

Mr. Arefaine also noted the need to adhere to selecting appropriate cites and methods as regards afforestation vis-à-vis promoting the coverage and diversity of indigenous trees, thus giving rise to the importance of terracing and water catchment walls at the environs of enclosures.

A number of research papers were presented at the conference, while tree seedlings were planted by invited guests at Expo Grounds, and exemplary nationals in this regard and Green Clubs were awarded.