World Environment Day marked with tree planting at S/K Hospital

As part of activities marking World Environment Day, Eco-Bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment on Tuesday embarked on a tree planting exercise at Serrekunda Hospital.

In his welcoming remarks, Tumani Janneh of Serrekunda Hospital thanked EcoBank and the Ministry of Forestry for the initiative.

He said they are very happy to be associated with EcoBank and the Ministry of Forestry in this programme.

“It is very important to have trees in our life because it gives us food, shelter, oxygen furniture and many other things,” Mr Janneh said. “To have trees in our hospital environment is very important and we promise to take care of these trees.”

Sarjo Fatajo, director of Forestry, said the forestry department stands firm in saving the country from desertification and environmental degradation by promoting tree planting exercise yearly.

Sound environmental protection, sustaining and improving the forest cover are essential, he says.

“In pursuance of our policy goals and objectives, which over the past two decades have been oriented towards a more participatory and partnership management approach, the Department of Forestry with assistance from other partners has set in resilience motion of the changes that are needed to achieve our policy target of bringing 30 per cent of the land areas under forest cover.”

In addition they would also bring 75 per cent of the above figures under sustainable management by the local communities at the end of the current policy period 2011-2019, Mr Fatajo said.

Arnold Ekpe, Group CEO of Eco-Bank, said EcoBank is proud to join the global community as it celebrates this years’ World Environment Day, across 30 EcoBank affiliates.

Ecobankers will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty for the environment through planting of 1500 tree seedlings of different species, he said

Africa is one of the continents suffering a net loss of forests. The UN estimated that nearly half of the forest loss is due to the cutting of wood for fuel.

“Tree planting is significant to conservation of forest, soil and water, as well as prevention of desertification, coastal erosion and destructive winds,” he added.