Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Ethiopian Embassy in South Sudan on Friday launched a tree planting initiative at the University of Juba to fight climate change.
The drive was led by Solomon Mamo, the Chargé d’affaires at the Ethiopian Embassy, alongside University of Juba Vice Chancellor Prof. Robert Mayom Kuoirot.
The campaign is part of the Green Legacy Initiative, spearheaded for the last 6 years by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
The Green Legacy Initiative Tree Planting Program was held under the theme “Renewal Through Planting” and saw the embassy planting 200 seedlings of different types at the university’s Custom Campus.
Speaking at the function, the Chargé d’affaires of the Ethiopian Embassy described the initiative as a bold move that plays a vital role in addressing the impact of climate change in the region.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this impactful event, themed as ‘Thriving Through Planting.’ It is a bold move that plays a vital role in addressing the impacts of climate change that our region as East Africa, as well as the world, has faced,” Mamo said.
He mentioned that the initiative, which was launched in 2019 by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, has surpassed expectations by successfully planting 40 billion trees.
“The planting of these tree seedlings today at the esteemed University of Juba is significant in showcasing this reality. Our embassy is committed to promoting the environment in South Sudan and has organized an annual tree planting program at the multi-training center, the so-called MTC Center for the Path for Years,” he said. “Since 2022, we have been planting various species of trees and fruit-bearing plants, including guava, avocado, mango, and other seedlings in the Ethiopia fraternity garden located at the MTC Center in Juba.”
He said Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is an ambitious program aimed at mitigating land degradation, promoting ecotourism, combating climate change, and producing surplus for both domestic consumption and export.
For his part, Prof. Robert Mayom Kuoirot, Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, appreciated the Ethiopian Embassy for extending the Green Legacy Initiative to the University of Juba, aimed at mitigating climate change.
“A special thanks to them for extending this initiative to the University of Juba, in particular, and in general to South Sudan. I hope, if the Minister of Forestry were here, he would encourage us to do more than that,” he said. “We have been given the idea; can we utilize it? Can we plant more trees? Our people are fond of cutting trees.”
Prof. Mayom called on the public to protect and safeguard the environment.
“For those who come from southern Sudan, our forests have been devastated because people are cutting trees. If you go to some areas, you will see that they are more or less going to turn into a desert in the years to come, unless we do something,” he warned. “So, to combat this and increase the forest cover, His Excellency had to take this initiative. Environmental degradation, as was mentioned earlier, results in climate change. Some places are getting hotter than they used to be.”
Meanwhile, Amb. Philip Jada, Director General for Bilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, underscored the importance of trees in preserving water resources.
“We do not want to just plant trees, but we want to ensure that the trees will survive. We want trees that can help improve our soil, improve our food production,” he stated. “We want trees that can help us preserve our water resources, and we want trees that help us in preserving our pollination.”
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