Menase Kifle
4 March 2008
Addis Abeba — The African Union (AU) Commission on Monday celebrated African Environment Day, an annual event set aside to create awareness on land degradation and desertification that constitute the key causes of hunger, deprivation, poverty and underdevelopment in Africa.
AU officials, including AU Commissioner for Rural, Economic and Agriculture Rosebud Kurwijila, representatives of government offices and other stakeholders took part.
Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner said the potential for African growth and development was inextricably linked with its environment as a determinant factor of Africa's health and wealth.
She said adapting to climate change and putting in place appropriate mitigation strategies were imperative if Africa was to consolidate the "laudable" achievements made in the field of socio-economic advancement.
This year's day marked for the sixth time was observed under the theme "Adapting to Climate Change for Livelihood Security in Africa", "It is my fervent hope that the trees that will be planted here in 'Biofarm' will be given the maximum attention by all those concerned," the commissioner said before the start of the tree planting program at the Biofarm Enterprise in Ysta??? in Addis Ababa.
AU Chairperson Professor Alpha Oumar Konare said the day provided an opportunity to "reflect collectively and individually on the impacts of our actions and strategies in the past twelve months and map a vision for the years ahead.
He said it was high time Africa adopted and implemented a suitable environmental policies and framework in the continent.
"I wish to extend my sincere feelings of concern to all those people who were unfortunate victims of environmental disaster during the course of the last twelve months and assure them of the unflinching resolve of the commission of the African union to advocate for sustainable management of the African environment," the outgoing AU chair said in a statement made available for media on the occasion.
An AU diplomat told The Daily Monitor that the purpose of the African environment day was to emphasize and give significance to the environmental issues of Africa.
The proposal to have an African environment day was made by Libya.
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