GreenUp 10,000-tree planting project launched

GreenUp 10,000 tree planting project has been launched at Joint Officers Mess at Kotu on 16 September 2016.

The project, affiliated to the Global Change Makers, is being implemented by Youth Action against Illegal Migration, and Climate Watch - The Gambia. 

It was launched under the theme ‘Climate change is real: act now’. 

Through the project, 10,000 trees are to be planted across The Gambia with the aim of creating an environmentally friendly, ecologically stable and economically flourishing Gambia.

Kemo Fatty, founder and project manager of GreenUp, said climate change is by far one of the biggest threats to the biodiversity, economy and human existence.

“Therefore, it is a collective responsibility on all of us to preserve and protect the nature; our survival depends on it,” he said.

Mr Fatty said GreenUp is a feasible solution in combating climate change and it has a component on awareness creation on global warming and simple solutions that people can adopt to curb climate change.

The project is expected to improve Gambians resilience to climate change.

Saikou Suwareh Jabai, executive director of Climate Watch - The Gambia, said #GreenUp 10,000 is a national youth-led tree planting exercise that will not only help to protect the ozone layer but will also contribute significantly to global efforts to address climate change and global warming.

He explained that the 10,000 trees that will be planted across the country will help to protect human health and the ecosystem by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth.

Lamin Darboe, executive director of National Youth Council, said #GreenUp 10,000 project is timely because climate change is a threat to human lives.

“We must save the future by identifying climate change as a challenge and curb it menaces on human existence,” he said.