Tackling climatic change, protecting env’t: Environment stakeholders launch reforestation campaign in Douala.

The campaign was launched held under theme: “Reforestation Campaign: Plant a Tree, Protect Our Planet”. It was laucnhed at EEC Petit Saker School in Douala I municipality in Littoral Region on May 31.

The project falls within the framework of activities to mark the 2024 World Environmen Day which will be commemorated on June 5. This year’s World Environmen Day will be under the theme: “Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience”

The aim of the initiative is to plant 20,000 trees across Cameroon by 2026.

The campaign, launched to combat climate change, seeks to engage communities in participatory tree planting efforts across all regions of Cameroon by 2026. 

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of the foundation, Linda Tatabod,  highlighted the critical importance of addressing climate change and its associated natural disasters. 

“The challenge of climate change is significant, and we are experiencing natural disasters as a result. It is crucial for every Cameroonian to take proactive steps to protect our environment. Tree planting is a key action in combating the effects of climate change,” Tatabod said. 

The initiative is said to reflect a proactive approach towards environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging collective action to safeguard the planet for future generations. 

On his part, the General Manager of the Prudential Beneficial, Handsome Brain Nkwenti, said the project is not just about planting trees but also about engaging not only the employees and customers, but also the different communities in the process. 

“We want to inspire others to take action, to understand the importance of sustainability, and to realise that every small step counts,” Brain Nkwenti said

He went on to add that: “We are not just investing in trees; we are investing in our future. We target children so that from an early age, our children grow up with this culture of protecting their environment, making it a habit during their growth”.

The representative of the Regional Delegate of Environment for the Littoral told reprters that: “We are in support of this project because it aligns with the our activities following the World Environment Day”.

He added that: “We are affected by the problems of drought, deforestation. Therefore, we really need to plant these trees because they create a microclimate to regulate the temperature”.

How climate change is affecting population

According to the World Bank in 2021, “climate change in Cameroon affects more than 70% of the population, mainly the various Indigenous groups, conflict-affected areas, and farmers whose main source of livelihood is agriculture, especially in the coastal and northern areas”.

Statistics from Global Forest Watch, hold that data from the year 2002 to 2023 on primary forest loss in Cameroon, shows that she lost 976 Kha of humid primary forest, making up 49% of it’s total tree cover loss during that time.

However, the loss in trees have greatly influenced the environment and climate of the country. Hence, the project of 20,000 trees by 2026, is expected to immensely contribute to the fight against chaotic climatic conditions.

This, given that trees play a great role, standing partly as a concrete solution to vulnerabilities such as drought, violent winds, floods, landslides and slips, and erosion.

The project initiated by the KB Empower Foundation, has seen Prudential Beneficial and other companies, partnering so as to join the Convergence Platform in their quest to  contribute to the tree planting project as part of their sustainability plan and support of global climate action.

The launch of the tree planting took place in the presence of parents, teachers and pupils, as well as officials of Prudential Beneficial and the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED.

This story first published in The Guardian Post issue No3131 of Tuesday June 04, 2024