Bissau, July 2, 2024 (Lusa) - Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Fatumata Djau Baldé, has challenged all Guinea-Bissauans to plant at least one tree and made 15,000 plants available for nationwide reforestation.

At a ceremony in the village of Embunhe (Nova Vizela in colonial times), on the outskirts of Bissorã, in the centre of Guinea-Bissau, on Monday, Djau Baldé was speaking at the launch of Tree Month, which this year will be punctuated by reforestation.

"From here in Embunhe, I'm challenging all Guinea-Bissauans to plant at least one tree this month in their homes, communities or ministries," said Baldé.

Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that the campaign could help reduce the "attacks that forests are suffering" in the country with the "uncontrolled felling of trees by loggers".

Fatumata Djau Baldé noted that since the current government took office last December, no licences have been issued to loggers.

Djau Baldé said that if no action is taken, the consequences of deforestation in Guinea-Bissau will be felt with the accentuation of climate change, loss of biodiversity and damage to the lives of the general public.

 "We know that lumberjacks are injecting chemical substances into the trees so that they can dry out quickly and be sold for firewood. This is bad for the forest," said Baldé.

The minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of Guinea-Bissau said that the government will issue a decree in the near future banning the production of firewood from the "pau de sangue" tree, one of Guinea-Bissau's most emblematic trees, but threatened by loggers.

The village of Embunhe is located in Oio, the region that Fatumata Djau Baldé pointed out as the one where the most trees are cut down to turn into wood.

"A lot of our wood is being smuggled to Senegal," said the official, who urged community leaders in the Oio region to ban any logger who appears in their communities without a licence.

Fatumata Djau Baldé urged the farmers of the Oio region to analyse what is happening in the 'bolanhas' (rice fields) and in the Varela seaside resort, where, she said, the cutting down of trees is causing salt invasion and coastal erosion, respectively.

Fatumata Baldé, warned Guinea-Bissau residents of the "terrible consequences" of cutting down large trees, in particular the wind that is being felt in the country.

For Baldé, a tree "provides a lot for Guinea-Bissau", namely soil protection, food and medicine in rural communities.

MB/AYLS // AYLS

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