The Tree planting campaign will be beneficial to Zambia’s eco-system. University of Zambia United Nations Youth Association (UNZA YUNA) has launched a tree planting campaign at the Great East Road Main Campus.
The campaign is aimed at achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number seven which aims to ensure environmental sustainability by 2015.
In an interview with the Lusaka Star, UNZA YUNA President Shikaaba Pastop said the tree planting campaign was vital as trees were an important aspect in the eco-system.
He said the campaign would be conducted through awareness programmes and educating other students on the importance of tree planting in order to meet the millennium development goals on environmental sustainability by 2015.
“The forest department has played an important role in supporting the campaign by donating drought resistant trees that easily adapt to the soil,” Shikaaba said.
Shikaaba has urged students to take part in the campaign as they were the leaders of today and tomorrow hence they should help in protecting the environment.
And Acting United Nations Information Centre Officer Charles Nonde said disturbing the ecological systems causes bio-diversity to die thus tree planting will ensure environmental sustainability and enhance bio-diversity which was part of the MDG.
“The United Nations is working with the youths because they are easy to work with and they will be able to educate their elders and peers in society,” he said.
Meanwhile , Grassroots Trust Manager Rolf Shenton said tree planting was a good way of bringing nutrients and water from beneath the earth’s surface.
Speaking during the tree planting exercise, Shenton urged people to use the traditional technology of preserving trees known as tree pruning, as it is easier than tree planting.