OUAHIGOUYA – Two local associations in Ouahigouya have bolstered reforestation efforts with a significant tree-planting event, continuing the city’s response to a national call for environmental action.

According to Burkina Informational Agency, they collaborated on this initiative during the reforestation day held at the Listening and Dialogue Center for young people on Saturday, August 17, 2024. This event also marked a belated commemoration of National Tree Day, which was initially celebrated on July 13, 2024. The event not only responded to the authorities’ call for civic engagement but also kicked off a regional reforestation campaign in Naaba Kango, witnessing participation from a wide demographic, including men, women, and children.

Issouf Ouédraogo, the president of the AP2D, detailed the motivations behind the initiative, emphasizing the transitional authorities’ plea for civic action as a pathway to peace in Burkina Faso. His counterpart, Harouna Kiémdé, spokesperson for the Yam-WEKRE association, echoed the sentiment, framing the reforestation as a patriotic act encouraged daily by the transition authorities. The event underscored the community’s support for ecological efforts, with over 200 plants distributed to various regional entities, including defense and security forces and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP).

Adding a practical dimension to the day’s activities, Fabrice Dabiré, the assistant for Water and Forests, shared insights on successful planting techniques and stressed the importance of ongoing care for the newly planted trees to ensure their survival and growth.

In total, 60 diverse plant species were added to the landscape of the Listening and Dialogue Center for young people, enriching the local biodiversity and fostering a greater sense of community involvement in environmental conservation.