Tuesday, 4 August 2009, Timor Leste. UN News: Led by United Nations Community Police officers and Timor-Leste national police service, local volunteers have so far planted more than 2,500 native trees in seven districts across the country as part of United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. .
The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste is one of 11 UN missions participating in the “Billion Tree Campaign,” which aims to encourage individuals, communities, business and industry as well as civil society organizations and governments to enter tree planting pledges online with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide each year.
In a call to further individual and collective action, UNEP has set a new goal of planting seven billion trees by the end of the year. Worldwide, more than four billion trees have so far been planted, keeping UNEP on track to reach its target by the end of 2009.
“This is a lesson for everyone, and especially for people in our village,” said village leader Adelino de Araujo from Ainaro District. Adding, “The trees will protect us. They will give shade to people and help avoid erosion.”
Tree species being planted in the Timor-Leste campaign include tamarind, guava, mango, orange, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, bougainvillea, mahogany and casuarina among others.
The involvement of community police in this activity has been recognized by UNEP, which recently awarded a special certificate to the police.
Community Police Team Leader Premalal Liyanarachchi believes that not only did the activity promote public awareness of environmental issues, but that it “helped to foster positive public perceptions about the role of community police.”
Riding on the success of the tree planting, community police officers have pledged to plant additional trees in Dili District.
Recent Comments
a few seconds ago
a few seconds ago
a few seconds ago
a few seconds ago
a few seconds ago