President Koroma Issues Stern Warning on National Tree Planting Day

By State House Communications Unit

President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has planted the first tree on the 2014 National Tree Planting Day. Launching the ceremony on the new Regent-Grafton Road, President Koroma noted that tree planting is integral to the prosperity of the environment that everybody craves for because it is a national imperative that should be commemorated everywhere during the rainy season.

The theme “Green Environment for Prosperity,” the President stressed coincides with the emerging global challenges which recognizes and anchors the Agenda for prosperity.

Expanding on the many opportunities provided by forests, the President said in this era of climatic, economic and social change, our forest ecosystems have continued to provide the services that are essential for our everyday lives currently and in the future. President Koroma stated that government is determined to raise the awareness, the skills and work ethics so as to benefit from the many opportunities and natural resources in the country.

To enjoy these gifts, President Koroma entreated all Sierra Leoneans to sustain livelihoods so as to ensure, guarantee and protect the environment which is particularly important in relation to the forests, woodlands and the wetlands.  Maintaining a balance between human activities and the conservation of the environment, the President noted “we should protect the rights of our environment to usher prosperity to stakeholders. We should strike the sustainable development balance between farmers, developers, miners and other stakeholders and find an alternative income and livelihood for them.”

As a showcase of government efforts toward protecting the environment, President Koroma said his administration is committed to maintaining the environment and has mandated the ministries of Agriculture and that of Lands, together with the Environment Protection Agency to jointly develop the structures and processes to protect the environment for Sierra Leoneans. The President therefore declared the Regent-Grafton highway as a no development road for housing, farming and other activities, stressing that it has to be green scenery. 

The President described the trees as an enormous carbon sink that absorb a massive amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “If the trees do not perform this vital role, there will be little to mitigate the effects of the global warming that is happening all around us.”

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Ahmed Kanu said that the Ministry of Lands has positioned and committed itself to support all collaborative efforts as joining the government and the people in moving towards a greener economy.

A representative of the civil society organizations, Mr. Charles Mambu informed the President that most of the houses in the protected areas are owned by senior members of society and adversely affect the water catchment and even the Aberdeen Bridge. He urged Sierra Leoneans to respond positively to the President’s call to protect the forests and the Regent-Grafton Road.

The Country Director of Steward, Kofi Panyin Yaeboi described the initiative of the President as timely describing it as one of the most effective mitigation strategies. He appealed to all Chiefs, communities and law enforcement authorities to continue to protect the forest, ecosystems and landscapes for all times.