Ernest Sumelong
24 March 2008
Agency, ANAFOR, on March 13 and 14.The conventions have as objectives, among other issues, to, with the technical support of ANAFOR, realise the planting of council forests and promote reforestation within school premises and certain areas chosen by the councils.
The anticipated result of the project would realise 40 kilometres of streets in the Buea council area planted with trees and 25 kilometres of streets planted with trees in the Tiko council area.
Besides, the project would ameliorate the revenue of the surrounding populations and create jobs through the maintenance of the planted plots, reinforce the capacity of council officials and workers on sylvicultural techniques and establish urban council surroundings through the planting and development of ornamental species. The project would also restore and preserve the environment.
The Post learned that ANAFOR granted to partner with these councils after the council authorities showed interest in tree planting and proposed the project.Prior to the Buea and Tiko conventions, ANAFOR reached agreements with the Councils of Kumba I and II on March 13.
Meanwhile, earlier conventions had been sealed with Abong Mbang, Angossas, Bertoua Rural, Dimako, Doumaintang and Messamena in the East Province.ANAFOR, which is part of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, has shifted emphasis from State plantations to involve everybody, according to the Assistant Director of ANAFOR, who signed for his institution.
Even though the ANAFOR representative failed to state the cost of the project, he insisted it was a council initiated project and they would technically assist them realise it.He also maintained that ANAFOR is not a funding agency, but could assist the councils look for funds.
Buea Council Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, said his council has laid a proper programme for the protection of the municipality to satisfy the requirements of the Millennium Development Goals are concerned.
In 2003, for example, Buea council authorities carried a tree planting exercise along the main road leading to the town. The tree planting project, going by the Mayor, is partly an answer to the effects of climate change and water shortage in the municipality.
"We have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife to fell the eucalyptus trees forest we have. Within the confines of this project we are going to replace the eucalyptus trees with other environment friendly trees that are going to be beneficial to our people."
Even though tree planting is a lofty project, funds for it by donors had become dead traps for immoral council officials who swindled them for private gain. This is the case of the former Mayor of Abong Mbang who was jailed for misappropriating funds meant for such projects.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Post. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
