Environment minister orders officers to plant trees

ENVIROBMENT|CLIMATE

For officers in the Ministry of Water and Environment, tree planting will no longer be a pass time activity. They will have to plant at least five trees every year, according to Goretti Kitutu Kimono, the Minister of State for Environment.

Kitutu said that all Ugandans should plant at least a tree or two every year in order to counter the rapid loss of tree cover. She said charity begins at home and that the officers in the ministry of water and environment should take the lead by planting at least five trees every year. 

"I task everybody to plant at least a tree or two this year beginning with this ministry (Ministry of water and environment)," said Kitutu. "I will begin inspecting all of you in this ministry. How many officers do we have in this ministry? If each of you planted five trees, we would have many trees every year."  

Kitutu added, "As a country, we are experiencing tree loss and degradation of wetlands. I advise people to leave these wetlands free, God created the wetlands and put frogs and snakes. Why do you invade these wetlands?"

Kitutu said there were few examples where people have vacated wetlands. She cited Mbarara, Kanungu and northern Uganda as some of the areas where some invaders of wetlands have left to pave way for restoration of the wetlands.

She was speaking at a ceremony organised to flag off Geoffrey Walker Ayeni who is mobilizing the public to take action against climate change. Ayeni started walking yesterday (Monday) from Luzira to Kapchorwa and is set to cover a total of 260kms.

He will also plant trees in every district located along his expedition in eastern Uganda. He said the stop overs include iconic places such as Mabira forest reserve in central Uganda and the source of the Nile where the longest river in the world starts its 6,700 kilometer journey.

Kitutu described Geoffrey Walker Ayeni as a patriotic Ugandan who has taken up climate change as a cause. She said climate change was behind the erratic weather sweeping through Uganda and the rest of the world and that it was leading to losses to our GDP (economy).

"I commend Ayeni for leading this. I need other walkers, he is walking to Kapchorwa, I would like other walkers to walk in different directions to send similar messages," said Kitutu.

Climate Change is caused by emissions such as carbon dioxide, which trap heat escaping to the atmosphere, thereby, causing global warming. The warming of the earth disrupts rainfall patterns and also melts the ice on mountain tops like the Rwenzori.

Ayeni, a marketer, describes himself as a committed charity walker. His previous expedition includes the walk for popularising the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007.

Ayeni described climate change as one of the biggest crises facing humanity because it has led to countless natural disasters.

"Climate change is an issue that will prove most damaging for those least able to adapt example; the poor the young, elderly and this makes it a global problem," he said in a brief statement.

Ayeni also described Uganda as a country that is vulnerable to climate change. "We have witnessed a number of climate change disasters like, Bududa, Sironko landslides, floods in Teso region, the long dry spell early this year all of which led to a dozen lives lost and multitude of infrastructure left in ruins."

He added, "We have only one planet and we should all do our part to ensure that it is protected. No matter how busy we are, it is fair to make small contribution yet necessary contribution for the good of the earth."

Ayeni paid tribute to the Ministry of Water and Environment, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), National Forestry Authority, National Environment Management Authority, Uganda Police, District Environment Officers and the Media for supporting his effort.

Ayeni will today (Tuesday) plant a tree in Mabira forest reserve on his way from Mukono to Jinja where he is expected to plant a tree at the source of the Nile at Jinja tomorrow (Wednesday).