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FAO launches national tree planting campaign in Somalia

686 views · Published 18 August 2014 · 3:11 · Indexed 7 October 2026

Channel: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations · 2014 · Nonprofits & Activism

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June 06, 2012, Hargeisa - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has launched a national tree-planting campaign in Somalia in a bid to restore the country's fast-disappearing forest cover. The "Plant-A-Tree" campaign, which started in Hargeisa, Somaliland coinciding with the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, saw hundreds of trees planted by dozens of volunteers.

Luca Alinovi, the head of FAO in Somalia, said the country's food security future largely depends of the environment calling for more investment in sustainable reforestation and agriculture.
"FAO is entrusted to find ways of ensuring that all people have enough to eat and organizations hasa unique overview of the impact of agriculture on Somalia's environment," said Alinovi. 

The UN agency continues to implement a multiplicity of food security- focused initiatives across Somalia and hopes to expand the tree-planting campaign throughout the country over the coming months. The continuing growth of the world's population and the steady rise in disposable income puts increasing stress on the earth's natural resources. With decades of conflict especially in South Central somalia and prolonged dry spells, the country's environment is bearing the worst brunt.

Dr. Mahmoud Sead, Somaliland's Minister of Environment and Rural Development, called for the end of what he described as rampant environmental degradation in Somalia. 
"At this rate, the country will be a desolate desert," said Sead adding: "As a result, temperatures will rise, our rangelands will become barren and all our livestock will cease to exist." 

The greatest challenge the world faces is finding ways to meet the food needs of the extra 2 billion people expected by 2030, while preserving the natural resource base to provide for future generations. FAO has both the expertise and experience to meet this challenge.
© FAO: http://www.fao.org

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