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[/one_third]The Earth’s environment is home to millions of different species of animal and plant life. It provides livelihoods, shelter and medicine to humans and animals, yet it faces threats of degradation from the very humans who inhabit and profit from it.
It is in this vein that the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) on the 43rd World Environment Day celebrated on June 5, 2015, donated 100 seedlings of fruit trees, shade trees and mahogany to the Southwest Regional Delegation of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), as its contribution towards conserving the environment.
Administrators, NGOs, Environmental Science and theatre clubs from the University of Buea planted the seedlings at GS Likoko Membea, Bulu Blind Centre and Bomaka, all in Buea Sub-division, Fako Division, Southwest Region.
ERuDeF had joined the Southwest Regional Delegation of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, other NGOs, Environment and Theatre Clubs from the University of Buea to celebrate the World Environment Day to highlight the impact we have on our planet and to encourage everyone to make an effort to help protect the environment.
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[/one_fourth]The Southwest Regional Delegate of MINEPDED, Set Ekwadi Songue, reiterated that communities should adopt environment-friendly practices like tree planting, using only re-usable bags to conserve resources, reduction of litter, recycling waste, using organic manure and nitrogen-fixing trees to increase the productivity of the soil and protect water catchment points.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Southwest Governor said communities should shun practices like deforestation, poaching, rampant bushfire, uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases, uncontrolled agriculture since our livelihoods depend on our environment and our environment depends on us for sustainability.
This year’s World Environment Day under the theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”, aims to raise awareness of how humanity, the environment and societies all rely on the responsible management of the planet’s natural resources.
By Margaret Eyong