Two Trees for 2000 - what is next?

Akababi Note

Taking the

shift in millennium as an

opportunity to plant trees is very

commendable. However, the important question is what is next.

This interest for tree planting should be followed in a sustainable manner. When you erect a monument for

remembering such events the mere erection is the most important part. Needless to say, when it comes to trees,

the business is more than planting them. The trees should grow and make it so that they can contribute to “conditioning” of the soil,

water and air of the local environment. Governmental, non-governmental and civil societies should join hands for the sustainable management of the trees being planted through the “Two Trees for 2000” project launched on June 5, 2007, world Environment Day, as harbinger of the Ethiopian Millennium celebration. Indigenous social organizations such as Edir, Equib, Tsiwa mahbers should pool their human and networking resources to take care of these trees. Local schools should help with teaching and awareness raising efforts. A system of certification of tree adoption and care should be established. There should be a mechanism to replace for every tree lost or cut with two trees more. Ethiopian Diaspora should engage itself in doing its level best to help in making Ethiopia greener by adopting trees in parks being constructed in different parts of Ethiopia.

Donor countries should divert a part of their aid

in complementing the

tree planting effort with

a management system.

If the trees being

planted are there to stay,

the planting campaigns

will be meaningful for

generations to come

both locally and globally.

Akababi would like

to take the lead and

join hands with

interested bodies

in following up

this ambitious otherwise

important initiative

Of the “Two Trees

for 2000” project.

Any comment, getachew@geocities.com