©AfreePress-(Lomé, June 2, 2023)- National Tree Day was observed on Thursday, June 1, 2023. To mark the event and support the government’s project to restore plant cover, the NGO Compassion International Togo launched a reforestation operation of 15,000 seedlings by the end of June 2023.

The kick-off of this reforestation campaign was given on the site of the agro-pastoral center of Kpèlè in the prefecture of Haho (75 km north of Lomé). A center created by the NGO and its partner churches to train children in agricultural and livestock farming.

Accompanied by the first leaders of the partner churches of the prefecture of Haho, Compassion International national office and its staff, proceeded on June 1, 2023, to the planting of 500 young plants on the Kpèlè site. Plans composed of Acacia, Gmelina, faux teak, Cashew and Cadrela.

This reforestation activity has two objectives, AMANA Sanda Eugène, Food Security Specialist at Compassion International Togo, told the AfreePress news agency. The objective of this approach, he continued, is to respond to the strategy of Compassion International which aims to mitigate the effects of climate change. “We realized that climate change can prevent us from achieving our development goals for the children we support. Therefore, we are determined to consider in our actions, the protection of the environment. The second objective is to reaffirm our participation in the vast reforestation campaign launched by the government, and which aims to plant 1 billion trees by 2030,” he said.

The reforestation campaign of Compassion International Togo will continue throughout the territory through environmental project managers and partner churches of the NGO.

“The operation which begins today extends throughout the month of June with the support of more than 200 churches with which we work. The objective is to reach 15,000 trees planted, this to mark our 15 years of existence in Togo. Already, our objectives will be exceeded because the mobilization made throughout the territory by our partner churches shows us that we can reach the milestone of 25,000 trees to be planted during this month,” added Mr. AMANA Sanda Eugene.

As a reminder, Compassion International is a Christian NGO whose mission is the protection and holistic development of children. In Togo, it provides total care for approximately 76,000 children and young people.

Raphael A.