Juba, South Sudan,
June 18, 2021 – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has graced a tree-planting scheme for the restoration of the country’s ecosystem contaminated by unhealthy business practices and a prolonged period of war.
This came a day after the Minister of Environment Josephine Napwon Cosmos invited Mr. Kiir to grace the launching occasion of the 100 million trees plantation project under her Ministry.
According to the Presidential Press Unit, the occasion held at Juba Freedom Hall by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to commemorate World Environment Day, brought together government officials, diplomatic corps accredited to South Sudan, representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organisation, and the general public.
In his remarks at the occasion, Kiir urged the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to work in collaboration with the City Council of Juba to address the issue of plastic bottles and other waste in the Nile River and on Juba streets once and for all to protect the Nile River as the source of South Sudanese livelihoods and to make sure Juba is clean.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, Kiir urged UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society organizations to join hands with the government in getting rid of the dangers of plastic pollution and other environmental challenges to make sure that the environment is safe.
They also urged the general public to preserve and protect the environment by adhering to proper waste disposal mechanisms.
Mr. Kiir also launched several government initiatives and efforts under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry aimed at addressing crucial environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity.
The initiatives include Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Conventions for Climate Change, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and National Capacity self-assessment Report and Action Plan for Rio – Conventions.
In her remarks at the occasion, Napwon said, to ensure the ecosystem restoration, “we must strive to create sustainable ways of living, working, and developing while at the same time protecting, restoring and creating new ecosystems for the future generations.”
World Environment Day is commemorated on 5th June every year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, South Sudan celebrated it on a later date. The day enables seeks to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourages the protection of the surrounding.
