By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Environmentalists in Kenema District on Monday planted over 1000 trees in four secondary schools as part of a project which seeks to promote tree planting for environmental protection.
The planting exercise was conducted under the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WABICC) project, which is being implemented by the Gola Rainforest Conservation Society (GRCS). The GRCS comprises the Royal Society for the Protection Birds and the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, which are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and the management of the Gola Rainforest.
Hundreds of pupils, alongside their teachers and officials from the various institutions involved in the project participated in the exercise at the Ahmadiyya Secondary School, Ansarul Islamic Secondary School, St James Secondary School and the Luke Commercial Secondary School, where various species of tree plants were erected.
Officials say the project aims to motivate the learning institutions to see the necessity of tree planting in environmental protection.
The WABICC project also entails provision of tools and technical expertise to the schools. Each school received a consignment of watering cans, wheelbarrows, shovels and cutlasses.
Julius Sama, District Forestry Officer in Kenema, said the exercise is part of a pilot by the project implementers. And he said they though it necessary to start with the four schools to demonstrate the importance of tree planting in the school environment. Sama said as part of the project, they intend to plant different types of fruit trees such as Mandingo, guyava, orange, Moringa, and avocado, which will serve dual purposes for food for the pupils and help provide shades for a conducive environment.
“We have over the decades destroyed the beautiful environment especially food trees that were planted by our late father’s which we have been feeding on, but those plantations have been deforested and we need to replant them for our generations yet unborn,” the District Forestry Officer told students at the Ahmaddiya Secondary School grounds, where a symbolic ceremony was held marking the commencement of the day-long planting exercise.
Mr Sama added that the project will help enhance the learning process in terms of providing opportunity for practical experiences for students doing subjects like biology and agricultural sciences. He said the long term plan of the Forestry Division is to establish orchards or botanical gardens in all schools.
“If this pilot phase succeeds, it will be expanded to all the schools both in the city and the rural schools in the district,” he said.
Agricultural science teacher, Joseph Vandi from the Ahmadiyya Secondary School expressed delight at the project, citing its potential benefits for them in terms of providing shades and protection from the harmful effects of the sun. He also said the trees will have the effect of protecting the school’s buildings from the destructive effects of recurrent windstorms.
Vandi cited a 2016/2017 incident in which two buildings in the school were destroyed by heavy windstorm, a situation he attributed to lack of trees.
“We have realized that tree planting in our environment will help to mitigate some natural disasters and this project will provide good atmosphere for the school environment and the trees will serve as places were both pupils and teachers will can during launch hours to look over their notes and for the pupils to study in conducive environment,” he said.
© 2019 Politico Online
