05/06/2024
# # # Celebrating World Environment Day: A Call to Action
Happy World Environment Day, folks!
Today, we come together to celebrate World Environment Day, which takes place every 5th of June. This year's theme is "Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience," and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is hosting this significant event. The theme highlights the crucial role of the environment in our survival and the necessity of maintaining its health to ensure our well-being on Earth.
Our dependence on a healthy environment is undeniable, yet we often neglect its needs. This neglect leads to adverse effects such as land degradation, desertification, and drought, which can be mitigated by changing our behaviors and practices. The theme of this year emphasizes the importance of responsible land management and reducing the indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
One of the most impactful actions we can take is to plant trees. Planting trees not only helps restore land but also combats desertification and improves drought resilience. By planting trees for every one we cut down and initiating planting exercises in areas where trees have been removed, we can contribute to a healthier planet.
Here are some actionable ideas to support tree planting initiatives in your environment:
1. **Buy and Plant Economic Trees:** Purchase economic trees, such as guava, apple, cashew, coconut, pear, and mango, and plant them in your village or community. These trees not only provide environmental benefits but also offer economic value.
2. **Set a Planting Goal:** Develop a plan to plant a minimum of 1,000 trees in your village by the end of the rainy season, which extends until November. This ambitious goal can have a significant positive impact on the local environment.
3. **Engage Your Workplace:** Encourage your colleagues to participate by providing each person with a shrub or urban tree to plant at home. Preferably, choose economic trees that can offer additional benefits.
The economic trees that are particularly encouraged include:
- Guava
- Apple (red)
- Cashew
- Coconut
- Pear (local and agric)
- Udara (agric)
- Kola
- Shawa shop
- Mango (agric)
- Orji (Iroko tree)
- Orange
- Lime
I have committed to planting a minimum of 1,000 trees in my own village and I encourage you to share your plans as well. Let me know how many trees you intend to plant in your village or environment, and I will gladly support you in the spirit of celebrating World Environment Day. Together, we can make a substantial contribution to our collective well-being as the environment continues to sustain us all.
Happy World Environment Day Celebration! š±š²
Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, Ph.D., CEnv.
(Chartered Environmentalist)
