The High Commissioner of Ioba Province in the South West Region, Bernadette Adenyo / Sermé chaired the reforestation session in the village of Walala V2 / commune of Guéguéré, on Saturday 19 August 2023. This reforestation session as part of Arbor Day allowed 1,000 plants to be planted.
The province of Ioba celebrated National Tree Day in the village of Walala V2 commune of Guéguéré.
The constituted bodies of the province, the representatives of NGOs and projects, the customary authorities and the populations of the villages of Kolkol, Walala and Dioumouon strongly mobilized for this tree planting.
The banks of the Bougouriba River which crosses the village were chosen as the reforestation site. In total, 1,000 seedlings made up of 300 cashew trees, 500 acacia trees and 200 eucalyptus trees donated by the Société des mines du Faso (SOMIF) were planted. The site is located a few hundred meters from the mine operated by SOMIF.
According to the Deputy Director General of SOMIF, Abdoul Kadré Sawadogo, this mining company established in Walala since 2017 carries out reforestation activities every year. “Our mining profession degrades the environment and we must work to restore it. That is why we are doing everything we can to improve our environment,” he continued.
He thanked the provincial authorities for having associated SOMIF with the celebration of Arbor Day in Ioba through this tree planting.
The prefect, president of the special communal delegation of Guéguéré, Jacob Bazemo, expressed his satisfaction for the choice made for his commune.
Mr. Bazemo invited other actors and the population to follow in SOMIF's footsteps. He appealed to the residents of the site to properly maintain the plants planted on the ground.
The head of the village of Walala V2, His Majesty Dêbra 2, said he was overjoyed for the important reforestation activity carried out in his locality. He thanked the High Commissioner for this gesture which preserves the ecosystem from degradation.
He noted that SOMIF is a responsible and exemplary mining company. He urged company officials to keep up the momentum.
His Majesty indicated that the populations have the duty to protect and maintain the planted trees.
For the head of the Canton of Guéguéré, His Majesty Téon-Nâ 2, this reforestation should be encouraged. The support of the mining company is to be welcomed and the populations must avoid bush fires to safeguard the environment, he advised.
The High Commissioner, Bernadette Adenyo, recalled that our country commemorated the 5th edition of National Tree Day under the theme: "Tree, symbol of community resilience in a context of insecurity".
According to Ms. Adenyo, this theme evokes the importance of the tree in our country in a situation of insecurity.
For her, the tree provides, among other things, socio-economic and symbolic functions in these difficult times that communities are going through.
The first person in charge of the province thanked the prefect of Guéguéré, the environmental services, the customary authorities for their mobilization, the mining company SOMIF for its financial support and all goodwill for their participation in this planting session.
A demonstration of tree planting by the head of the departmental post of the environment of Guéguéré, Lieutenant Benjamin Ouédraogo, allowed the participants to carry out the tree planting well.
Source: Burkina Information Agency