LAYE — The village forest of Barama in Kourwéogo Province was enriched with 1,050 indigenous trees during the celebration of National Tree Day on July 25, 2024, aiming to boost the region’s biodiversity and combat environmental degradation.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was sponsored by El hadj Amado Sawadogo, chairman of the board of directors of SOTRACO, and supported by the Great Green Wall initiative. The reforestation project involved local administrative, customary, and religious leaders, alongside community associations and technical services. The chosen species — baobab, tamarind, Zamné, and lianas — are well-suited to the local climate and offer both nutritional and economic benefits.

Tasséré Ouédraogo noted the generally good condition of the Barama forest, which spans approximately 89 hectares, but highlighted the need to address some clearings. The High Commissioner of Kourweogo Province, Siaka Barro, emphasized the reforestation effort’s broader goal to encourage local communities to engage more actively in environmental preservation. He pointed to the adverse impacts of human pressure on forest resources, including reduced soil fertility and climate-related challenges, which threaten local livelihoods.

Barro urged community leaders and residents to intensify their conservation efforts and recover degraded ecosystems through coordinated actions. The day’s godfather, Amado Sawadogo, echoed this call and stressed the importance of continuous monitoring and maintenance of the newly planted areas. He praised the Barama community for their longstanding commitment to preserving the forest, now officially designated a municipal forest by the commune of Laye as of July 24, 2024.