Namibia celebrates Arbor Day

WINDHOEK, 13 OCT – The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry on Friday celebrated international Arbor Day in efforts to sensitise citizens about the importance of planting and conserving trees for local, national, regional and global benefits.
Arbor Day is a day in which communities are encouraged to plant trees and the event this year was held under the theme ‘Plant trees to mitigate climate change and improve food security’.
In a speech read on his behalf at the ceremony here, Agriculture Minister Alpheus !Naruseb emphasised that there is a need to create awareness on the fundamental roles trees play in environmental sustainability and socio-economic development.
He noted that environmentally, the effects of trees are most seen at the farm level, where they play an important role in improving the microclimate, reducing damage caused by wind, protecting against soil erosion and restoring soil productivity, and maintaining hydrological systems.
!Naruseb said the direct connection between forestry and food security is the food items produced by trees which include fruits, nuts, leaves, roots and gums which are just some of the huge array of edible foods that are obtained from forests, either growing naturally in the wild or cultivated on farms and around homes.
“I would like to remind Namibian citizens, to re-dedicate ourselves to tree planting, protection and conservation as well as ensuring sustainable use of trees,” he said.
He also said it is therefore the government’s commitment to ensure that Namibians are encouraged to make use of indigenous and endangered trees and preserve indigenous knowledge for the future generations.
!Naruseb highlighted that currently about 450 hectares are planted with fruit trees and other tree species since 2010 in different parts of the country through the annual commemoration.
Arbor Day was initiated in 1872 by Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska newspaper editor of the United States of America, who also served as a Secretary of Agriculture.
On the Namibian calendar, every second Friday in October has become the fixed date for Arbor Day and it has been celebrated in the country for more than 25 years.
(NAMPA)