Africa-Press – Liberia. The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), has launched the planting of 20,000 mangrove and coconut trees along the Japan Freeway, the coastal belt of the Borough of New Kru Town, and West Point, respectively.
The initiative, which is implemented under the MonGrow Green Project, will help fight climate change and promote climate resilience throughout Monrovia and its environs.
The project, which launched on Saturday, May 6, is being supported by the Mayor’s Migration Council through the GlobalCitiesFund and MonGrow Green Project with a US$200,000 grant aimed at addressing emerging challenges resulting from the global pandemics and climate crisis.
Additionally, the project will also witness the planting of at least 20,000 trees along the beaches of NewKru Town and WestPoint, communities that have suffered the effects of erosion and climate change that have damaged homes and properties over the years.
Jefferson Koijee, Monrovia City Mayor, who officially kicked off the project in the Borough of New Kru, stated that the 20,000 trees, when planted, will mitigate erosion, stabilize climate resilience, and build forests along the coast.
“We grow trees today to protect the future,” he said.
According to Koijee, the project will also provide empowerment opportunities through livelihood training and business support for over 150 beneficiaries across the two affected communities.
He said, “With support from the Mayor’s Migration Council, we planted the first sets of trees to help our environment and foster our continuous fight against climate change. We have to continue protecting nature as a remarkable achievement in today’s global community.”
He added that the Mongrow Green Project of the Monrovia City Government will see thousands of trees planted for this singular purpose.
Koijee used the occasion to thank the Global City Fund for supporting such an initiative.
Koijee added that both areas (Kru Town and WestPoint) selected are situated on the coastal belt, something he said justified their inclusion in the project after being directly affected by sea erosion over the years.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to provide protection and preserve the trees to be planted at all times and urged them to work with the local authority to maintain and implement the project.
Meanwhile, the city government is working with SHADE LIBERIA and the support of dwellers to plant the 20,000 trees to absorb excess groundwater and protect the coastlines of WestPoint and New Kru Town from erosion.
In remarks, SHADE LIBERIA boss Tarnue Dorbor disclosed that the trees will include 10,500 mangroves, 9,000 coconuts, and 500 flower trees, respectively.
Both WestPoint Commissioner William Wieh and the Borough of KruTown Governor Moses Doe Weah lauded the Mayor’s Migration Council for the initiative, noting that it is through them that they can protect their communities.
They maintained that the choice of West Point and New Kru Town is a plus, thus describing the project as a pilot project whose extension is based on the first performance.
The Kru Town governor and WestPoint commissioner then urged the citizens not to steal the trees, vowing to provide security for the project through their respective offices, adding that the project is meant to beautify the Borough and Township of WestPoint.
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