ADDIS ABABA- After Ethiopia broke world tree-planting record on July 29, experts in natural resource management now call for conservation of the planted seedlings.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, Mohammed Endreas, Lecturer, Natural Resource Management at Ambo University said that plantation is very helpful to tackle the effects of deforestation and climate change. As deforestation is a serious challenge of the country, plantation is mandatory to restore the degraded lands of the country, he underscored.
Regarding the July 29th national tree plantation program, whilst appreciating the initiation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for the successful accomplishment of the program, he noted that the success of the campaign will be very helpful in achieving the ‘National Forest Sector Development Program’, which aims to increase the county’s forest cover to 20 percent by 2020.
As to Belay Yadeta, another Lecturer from the same Department, the government should allocate to conservation of the seedlings, the same budget it allocated to the plantation program. The community should also give attention to conserve the seedlings like that of the plantation campaign, he added.
He also indicated that sustainable program should be practiced in the country as the forest coverage is dwindling from time to time.
Getu Dame, Natural Resource Management Expert with the Ministry of Agriculture, for his part, said that beyond government commitment, the attitude of some communities is important to achieve the forestation program. Mentioning the communities who consider plants as their children, he suggested for measures to be taken to sustain and expand such type of positive attitude towards the forest.
In a statement he delivered last week to express his gratitude to all those who participated on Monday’s tree planting program, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said that there is a need to boost the country’s national capacity to nurture the planted saplings to at least 70 percent in the coming years.
Stating that nurturing the growth of our children is similar to the nurturing of the growth a tree, the Premier called on the people of Ethiopia and local investors to care for the planted trees.
The Ethiopian Herald August 7/2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
