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Africa Moyo in BRAZZAVILLE, Congo
The United Nations must prioritise the decade of planting trees to fight climate change and its dire effects on the people and environment, the Brazzaville Declaration states.
The declaration came at the end of the four-day first International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation, where Zimbabwe’s delegation was led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi.
Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, Permanent Secretary in VP Mohadi’s Office Dr Benson Martins Dube and Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Public Works Dr John Basera also attended.
Trees and forests not only lock in carbon, reducing greenhouse gases, but protect the ground and stop erosion.
Apart from host President Denis Sassou Nguesso, other leaders who attended the official opening of the conference were President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, President Faustin Archange Touadera of the Central African Republic, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon.
From Southern Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Madagascar joined Zimbabwe in sending representatives.
Republic of Congo Minister for Forest Economy, Rosalie Matondo, read out the Brazzaville Declaration.
It says African leaders called for “the adoption of a resolution by the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations to officially endorse” the plan ahead of the annual meeting that takes place in New York in September.
The leaders also called on the UN to hold an international conference on reforestation biennially and on a rotating basis, from one continent to another.
The UN should realise the “crucial importance for the planet” and declare that the planting of more trees would help combat climate change through reducing erosion.
Trees also help generate income, while also being used in the health sector for the production of medicine.
In his remarks, VP Mohadi said the conference had come at an “opportune time when mankind is faced with an existential threat due to global warming, deforestation, floods and famine, occasioned by climate change”.
Zimbabwe, he said, had declared a state of disaster following a poor 2023-2024 summer cropping season due to erratic rains caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
“As I speak, the whole Southern African sub-region is facing a severe drought due to El Nino weather occurrences,” he said.
“We, therefore, applaud the Government of the Republic of Congo for hosting this auspicious conference at this important juncture in the lives and history of humanity.
“Let us all put all hands on deck to reverse this global phenomenon. Let us do so, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of future generations to come.”
Zimbabwe had instituted a reforestation levy on tobacco growers in cognisance of the negative effects arising from growing and curing the crop. The levy is dedicated to tree planting and reforestation.
In addition, Government had designated the first Saturday of every December as a tree planting day during which the national psyche is mobilised towards planting more trees, particularly indigenous ones.
President Sassou Nguesso said the conference was the beginning of “a process of research and a life-saving response”.
“The situation we already know remains worrying (and) the need for action is clear. It’s all about the will to act and putting in the necessary effort,” he said.
African Union Commission chair Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat said the greatest challenge today was not only to stop the disappearance of forests, but also to restore those that have disappeared and create new ones.
Kazakhstan’s advisor to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Special Representative on International Environmental Cooperation, Zulfiya Suleimenova, said the Eastern European country was committed to biodiversity and ecosystem preservation.
Kazakhstan intends to plant two billion trees by 2027, with 843 million planted between 2021 and last year.
The conference, which attracted over 2 000 delegates, was part of an “African and global decade of afforestation and reforestation” launched by President Sassou Nguesso at COP27 in Egypt in 2022.
Since 1986, Congo has declared November 6 every year a national holiday during which everyone should plant at least one tree. Kenya has also declared a special holiday on November 13, so that people plant trees.
The conference was organised by the Congolese government, the African Union Commission, the UN Forum on Forests and the African Forest Forum.
Online Reporter