Minister of Environment supervises the Launch of Activities Organised Within the Framework of National Tree Week
Nouakchott
The Minister of Environment, Lalia Aly Camara, together with the Wali of Trarza, Mr Mohamed Ahmed Mouloud, supervised on Wednesday the launch of the National Tree Week, organised this year under the theme: ‘Every Mauritanian has a tree’.
The week, which will last until 9 August, aims to introduce the culture of plant protection and encourage afforestation in the life of society and combat desertification, which are two important pillars of environmental preservation.
This year, the annual afforestation and aerial seeding campaign targets the afforestation of 322 hectares and the direct seeding of 2,200 hectares in the Great Green Wall, using drones with improved seed efficiency using ‘seed balls’ technology.
In a speech on the occasion, HE the Minister pointed out that the launch of this week is taking place at the site of a modern nursery, equipped with the latest innovative technologies in the field of afforestation and sand dune stabilisation, noting that this commemoration is held simultaneously in all provinces of the country.
National Tree Week is an important opportunity to reinforce the commitment to forest restoration and sustainable management of natural resources, she said, noting that major challenges facing the environment include biodiversity loss, climate change, severe droughts, land degradation, and pollution.
Meeting these challenges requires working together to protect the environment, restore land and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, she said, adding that this week is an opportunity to mobilise around this crucial initiative for our country.
She said that preserving the environment is a priority for His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazwani, and the government is working under his directives to reduce forest degradation, restore degraded lands, strengthen the Great Green Wall, and combat pollution.
She recalled several measures implemented by the Ministry of Environment, including rehabilitating the central nursery in Nouakchott and contributing to the afforestation of street pavements and green spaces, noting that the Ministry has intensified efforts by launching awareness campaigns, supporting schools in planting trees, and carrying out environmental monitoring missions.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Mr Sidina Ahmed Ali, said that the theme of this week is not just words, but a clear and serious call for each of us to work for the environment we live in and coexist with, highlighting the vital importance of trees in our ecosystem and their essential role in the face of climate change that threatens our country, our continent, and the whole world.
Trees are not just elements in our landscapes; they are pillars of biodiversity and vital resources for humanity, providing us with the oxygen we breathe, the water we drink, the foods and medicines that support our health, as well as playing an indispensable role in the fight against climate change, by absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating the climate.
The Great Green Wall is a bold and necessary response to the major challenges posed by climate change, he said, noting that the initiative combats desertification, restores degraded land, and improves the lives of local communities, offering hope for a sustainable future for millions of Africans.