By Elvis Tah & *Eunice Fomenky
Forestry and Wildlife Minister, MINFOF, Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, has stated that some 75,000 trees will be planted in the Southwest Province.
Ngolle Ngolle planting tree
Prof. Ngolle Ngolle made this declaration Thursday, September 4 in Buea, during the launching of the National Tree Planting Campaign in the Province.The Minister stated that the trees will cover an area of about 250 hectares.
The tree planting exercise, according to Ngolle Ngolle, is in tandem with the objective of the National Forestry Policy. He said the exercise is aimed at increasing forest productivity and ensuring the renewal of forest resources to compensate for loss due to forest exploitation, agricultural development and harvesting of fuel wood etc.
"Trees and forest play an important role for survival. Tree planting has now become a national and international obligation," Ngolle Ngolle said.According to Ngolle Ngolle, the current forestry law states that for every 1000 inhabitants living within a region, an area of 800 metre square of tree plantation has to be developed.
Against this backdrop, he said his ministry will partner with local councils to develop tree plantations in councils.He saluted efforts of the Buea, Tiko and Kumba I and II councils, who have taken a giant step to partner with the National Forestry Development Agency, ANAFOR, to develop and implement a tree planting programme (Operation Green City) in their municipalities.
To ensure the kick off of the tree planting exercise, Minister Ngolle Ngolle offered a consignment of rackets, hoes, spates, wheel barrows etc to the Buea Municipality.
Forestry Minister donates farming tools
Tree Planting In UB
Also, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof, PK Titanji, declared that he would launch a programme in which every student plants at least a tree on campus before graduating.
On his part, Buea Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, disclosed that his council has set up a plan for land owners to plant at least four trees on a plot before a building plan is approved. He also said the council has it as policy that parents would be obliged to plant a tree before a birth certificate is signed.
At the end of the ceremony, Minister Ngolle Ngolle, Southwest Governor, Louis Eyeya Zanga Louis, Mbella Moki and other officials planted a tree each to launch the project.
*UB Journalism Student On Internship
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