Over the last three or more decades, the earth planet is warming at more unprecedented rate than it was a century or more years back. The reason is resulted from industrialization as a means of development.
Consequently, the change is causing extreme climatic conditions – changes in temperature, glacial ice, loss of biodiversity, irregular rainfall, and diminution of agricultural productivity, disrupting food production and unleashing more devastating challenges.
The effect mainly is more vast, diverse and harsh for peoples of developing countries. By causing severe degradation in the ecosystems, it lowers agricultural productivity, imperils food security and worsens the level of poverty.
Currently, many of the effects are already being demonstrated in various forms spurring the world to international cooperation and immediate actions to offset the challenges and promote a cleaner environment.
Ethiopia, as a country which is concerned about the issue, has been undertaking a wide range of activities to address environmental problems. By devising its own Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy that accelerate the transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency, and also by incorporating environmental issues into its development plans, the country is working to discharge its responsibility accordingly.
As part of these endeavors, efforts have been exerted to afforest degraded lands and conserve and develop the country’s rich forests in a manner that preserves the environment. Also, and most importantly, the country has been conducting massive seedling plantation programs over the past two and plus decades.
At this rainy season, the government has set a plan to plant four billion seedlings of various species both exogenous and endogenous to be planted across the country to improve the country’s forest coverage, conserve soil, improve food production and pure water, and to build a climate change resilient economy.
In addition to the aforementioned benefits, trees provide many other benefits beyond beautifying our communities. Trees clean our air, fight climate change, provide habitat for wildlife, offer shade and improve the health of our environment.
The seedling plantation program is to be carried out under the theme – “40 Seedlings per Head”. Therefore, every citizen would plant forty seedlings, and has a responsibility to nurture it. Ensuring the successful growth of the tree seedlings is crucial in order for the multi-layered benefits of the seedling program to come to fruition.
According to the Prime Minister, some 1,000 seedlings will be planted in the national palace alone.
As the World Environment Day is celebrated today, the government can use the date not only to spread greenery as well as create a positive impact on the environment, but also to encourage awareness and action for the protection of our environment. It can serve as a day to reflect on the works done to protect the environment, assess what needs to be done in the future and how every single citizen can contribute in this paramount endeavor.
World Environment Day is marked throughout the world with various activities and campaigns, to turn the public’s attention to the many ecological problems and the need to preserve the environment.
As Ethiopia marks the day by planting seedlings, it is fitting to recall the saying that goes ‘when you eat a fruit, think of the man who planted the tree’; and the seedlings which we plant today has huge ramifications for the next generation.
The Ethiopian Herald June 5/2019
