This year’s World Environment Day was last Saturday June 4 celebrated in Doume, in the Upper Nyong Division of East Region with more than 300 ‘Ayous’ and ‘Ekoune’ endangered tree species planted by community members with the support of the Central African Programme for Environment, CARPE.
In attendance were representatives of the Upper Nyong Divisional Delegation of Forest and Protection of Nature, MINEP, the National Forestry Development Agency, ANAFOR and the Doume Council. It also saw the participation of the Divisional Officer and Mayor of Doume, Ndjana Yves Bertrand Noel and Awoula Balada Marinus respectively.
Nkal Woub Georges, head of ANAFOR’s humid forest zone, announced that a massive reforestation drive by eight communities in Doume Council aimed at planting 20,000 trees will soon be launched. He explained that the campaign will see each community plant 2,500 trees in their backyards. “Uncontrolled deforestation reduces forest cover and destroys arable land, » cautioned Ndjana Yves Bertrand Noel. He explained that the eventual consequence is a negative impact in capturing emission of green house gases; all with devastating effects on the economy and the protection of the environment. As an area that had long suffered from deforestation, he commended Mayor Awoula Balada Marinus for trying to tackle the problem.
Awouala Balada Marinus said the Council’s tree nursery and plantation would eventually be transformed into a botanic garden, seedling and research centres. He said this was part of efforts to encourage local people to commit more to reforestation. “It’s amazing what Doume Council is doing, planting trees in a place that is almost a tropical jungle! We think it’s a good initiative worth supporting,” explained CARPE Cameroon National Coordinator, Antoine Eyebe. He acknowledged that forests are depleted faster than they are replanted, thus the urgent need to step up reforestation efforts. He expressed joy at the involvement of both the young and old in the tree planting exercise, promising CARPE’s continuous support to the Council.
The day ended with a participative discussion with community people on the challenges of deforestation and climate change during which they recounted how it is affecting them. The Central African Regional Programme for Environment, CARPE, is funded by the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID) to reduce the rate of deforestation in nine Central African countries and the subsequent climate change.
