Following the launch Friday in one municipality of the initiative to plant 100 million trees by 2030, the Sustainable Development Committee of the Ministry of Planning, in partnership with the Libyan Environment and Climate Organization, organised a celebration on World Population and Development Day on Saturday. Other municipalities will launch their own local tree planting campaign.
The celebration, which was held in the Al-Khoms Municipal Council Hall, was attended by the Minister of Local Government, Badr Al-Din Al-Toumi and Planning Minister, Mohamed Al-Zidani, the Mayor of Al-Khoms Municipality, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Director of the Environmental Sanitation Department at the Ministry of Local Government, the Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Committee, and the Chairman of the Libyan Environment and Climate Organisation and several people interested in environmental and climate affairs.
The celebration included the launch in Khoms Municipality of the initiative to plant and grow 100 million trees by 2030, which will start from this December, in order to preserve the environment and climate and ensure a healthy environment for the population.
100 million trees by 2030 is a strategic project
Commenting exclusively to Libya Herald on the 100 million tree planting project announced by the Minister of Planning, the Director of the Media Office at the Ministry of Planning, Iman Omar, said that adopting this strategic project, which will contribute to reducing the phenomenon of desertification in Libya, is one of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Localising SDGs
She said the Ministry of Planning was keen to make these SDG’s essential goals for establishing the foundations of development, in addition to an opportunity for local government tools in municipalities to fulfil their obligations towards the international development system related to population by creating an enabling environment for systematic work towards achieving the SDGs and monitoring the necessary means for implementation.
Necessity of interconnecting political, economic, social and environmental aspects of development
Omar pointed out that the Minister of Planning stressed the necessity of interconnecting the political, economic, social and environmental aspects of development because it enhances the ability of systems and institutions to withstand as a vital matter for achieving SDGs because it eradicates poverty and hunger and achieves food and water security.
Trees will be planted according to climatic region
Regarding the details of the afforestation project plan, Omar stated that the afforestation plan for 100 million trees was developed and distributed geographically and chronologically. Forests trees and forests that are compatible with the desert and semi-desert environment in the city belts and in the non-agricultural rocky mountainous areas and on the borders of the desert range adjacent to the Libyan coast. While desert trees that can withstand thirst and drought will be planted in desert areas in southern Libya.
14 million forest tress and fruit trees annually
These trees, Omar continued, represent 70 percent of the afforestation project, and the remaining percentage represents fruitful trees, led by palm trees, olives, citrus trees, and some other fruits. These will be planted in major neglected agricultural projects in several municipalities in the east, west and south of the country. As for the project’s timetable, Omar said the aim is to plant about 14 million trees annually starting in 2024, if appropriate conditions are available to implement the plan.
Regarding the possibilities available for the project, Omar said that there will be cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the provision of various seedlings and the necessary needs for afforestation campaigns, whether in the areas targeted for planting forest trees and forests or in the agricultural projects affiliated with Agriculture Ministry. Coordination has also been made with the Ministries of Local Government and the Environment to support the municipalities and their affiliated entities to support the project. Attention is paid to providing the necessary equipment to make it successful, while continuing to water the trees during the summer season every year.
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