Tree planting focus of environment campaign
The national environment campaign is focusing on tree planting this year, under the theme Plant a Tree – Conserve Biodiversity.
The theme was officially launched during a recent tree-planting activity on Ile Perseverance, which will receive its first residents soon.
Government officials attending the event included Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan, Minister for Education Bernard Shamlaye, and Minister for National Development Jacquelin Dugasse.
There were also a number of children present from various schools such as Anse Etoile, Bel Eau, Belonie, English River, Mont Fleuri and La Rosiere.
This year is also International Year of Biodiversity declared by the United Nations General Assembly and being celebrated under the slogan Biodiversity Is Life – Biodiversity Is Our Life.
For the past two years, the Department of Environment has been putting special emphasis on planting trees and has used local themes to promote this, such as My Tree, Our Seychelles and Pa I gou ler ou plant kot ou!
And with the same emphasis being continued this year, Mr Morgan asked everyone to take up the initiative.
“I am calling on every organisation and every citizen to plant a tree in our continuous effort not only to protect biodiversity and enhance food security but at the same time to take an important step in combating climate change,” he said.
“Planting trees will help us secure a better future for our children and their children.”
Mr Morgan said trees are known to provide a wide array of habitats and food to many species, including man. So when planting a tree we not only beautify our environment but also enhance the ecosystem and provide habitats to birds, reptiles, insects, mosses and other plants.
During the ceremony, pupils from Anse Etoile primary school sang a song entitled Dance of Life, asking everyone to protect our seas, sky and the entire planet.
Mr Morgan planted the first tree, followed by others present, with all the species being endemic and known to thrive in the sandy type of earth at Ile Perseverance.
Mr Dugasse asked the future tenants to take good care of the trees and to keep on planting, which will bring, among other benefits, shaded areas for everyone.