The National Environment Agency (NEA), in collaboration with Forest Farm Facility (FFF) and local communities in NBR, LRR and WCR, recently embarked on a massive regional tree planting exercise in Suwareh Kunda village in the Lower Badibu district, Wurokang village in the Kiang Central district and Sotokoi village in the West Coast Region.
Over five thousand food and utility trees including Maliena, Mahogany, Lusina, Bunkuwo, eucalyptus, Silk cotton tree or Bantawo were planted in three villages and two schools.
Addressing the villagers in Suwareh Kunda, the Deputy Governor of NBR, Mustapha Saidy, disclosed that trees have been furnishing them with two main things essential to their lives; that is, food and oxygen, and has also been providing additional necessities such as shelter, medicine, and tools.
The value of trees continues to increase and more benefits are being discovered as their role expands to satisfy the needs created by modern lifestyles.
He added that there are areas within the country, especially the North Bank, that are very vulnerable to desert or semi-arid region because there are limited trees scattering within a vast land area.
“This is one of the reasons why tree planting in those areas received maximum approval from local community members who receive the heaviest part of the problem, much so with such support from the National Environment Agency and her partners, who provided thousands of seedlings and stumps to be cultivated in our community woodlot and schools,” the deputy governor noted.
