Story by Sifiso Sibanda
THE International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation has officially opened in Congo Brazzaville, amid calls for African nations to scale up mitigation measures to contain climate change.
Officially opening the conference this Friday, Congo Brazzaville President Denis Sassou N’guesso said the forum allows the African continent to introspect on strategies to upscale afforestation and ensure that there is sustainable harvesting of trees on the continent.
“Our coming together here to dialogue on the key aspect of ensuring that our continent is protected from cutting down of trees which has an effect on the balance of nature is critical and we must ensure that we work with our communities for these strategies to be sustainable.”
Emerging from a closed-door session, Zimbabwe Vice President, Cde Kembo Mohadi affirmed that the leaders agree that the issue of afforestation and reforestation of Africa is paramount to the continent.
“We agreed that we have to go to our countries and grow more trees to avoid a situation where we end up with an environmental disaster that could have an impact on food security, the economy and livestock. So, it’s agreed upon that we work as a continent to redress this and remember it takes years for trees to mature hence the move to start now.”
Stakeholders who included the Forest Investment Fund, those into carbon credits financing, forestry and wood companies and some United Nations agencies also attended the conference.
