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On
the occasion of the World Environment Day (WED) 2000 commemoration,
on 27 May 2000, I participated in a tree planting activity which
took place at Wondo Genet College of Forestry representing UNDP.
The
celebration was organized and led by the Environment Protection
Authority (EPA) in partnership with government and non government
organizations. Participants from government, non government, international,
religious organizations, donors and private sectors were invited.
Wondo-Genet
Forestry College (WGFC) in Wondo Genet (which is in the Southern
region, 270 kms. away from Addis Ababa) is highly fertile and
receives all year showers making it a favorable site for different
tree species most of which are planted by the College. However,
the recent forest fires in Ethiopia had destroyed about 300 hectares
of these forests.
Three
hundred sixty students participated from 26 high schools (from
Regions 14, Southern and Oromyia) in planting 5600 tree seedlings
which would help regenerate the forests. Journalists and reporters
from radio Legedadi participated in the event for coverage by
the press. Video films were also taken by EPA and the College
to publicize the event.
UNDP
CO sponsored the production of 500 T-shirts with environmental
messages and the acronym "UNDP" on them which were distributed
to all the participants. Closing remarks were made by EPA and
UNDP. It is to be noted that the United Nations Department of
Public (UN/DPI) had invited all UN organizations and partners
to collaborate in seed planting campaign entitled "From Times
Square to Timbuktu - Children planting trees".
This
fits into the Ethiopian National theme for the World Environment
Day (June 5, 2000) "Act Now to Save Our Forest" A cleaning activity
at Woreda 5 Kebele 12 in Addis Ababa took place on 4 June 2000.
A special ceremony at Addis Ababa Stadium will be conducted on
5 June 2000 to commemorate this global and national event. UNDP
Ethiopia will present 3000 seed embedded cards to EPA on this
occasion.
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