Benguela - The Benguela Municipal Administration launched an afforestation campaign last weekend, planting 200 species of acacia trees, aiming to promote a more sustainable environment in the region, ANGOP has learnt.
Under the slogan "Promoting a sustainable environment in Angola means valuing life", the tree planting campaign is part of National Environment Day, to be held on 31 January, in partnership with the Provincial Office for the Environment, Solid Waste Management and Community Services.
With this activity, the Benguela Municipal Administration intends to afforest various areas of the urban centre and the outskirts, especially the most critical zones in terms of lack of tree species.
The start of this afforestation campaign involved more than 200 volunteers, including students and members of civil society, and focused on the EN100 national road, from the 27 to the Cavaco roundabout, passing through the Graça neighbourhood.
In this regard, Benguela's municipal administrator, Paula Marisa, who launched the campaign, sees the afforestation of the city of Ombaka as a challenge for all residents.
"Everyone has a responsibility to plant an acacia tree," she said, recalling that some acacia tree planting campaigns have not had the desired effect due to vandalisation acts.
As an example, she pointed to Rua da Maxi or the area around Catumbela cemetery, where the new acacia trees were planted.
Regarding this scenario, the official argued the need to do a lot of work to make city dwellers aware of the need to protect planted trees, emphasizing the need to sensitise residents, especially children, so that they take better care of their green spaces.
Paula Marisa appealed to everyone in the municipality to be environmentally conscious, as the acacia trees not only beautify the city, but also provide shade and oxygen.
In turn, the director of the Benguela Provincial Office for the Environment, Solid Waste Management and Community Services, Marisa Kinzimba, called on society to get involved in the campaign, with the aim of planting more than a thousand acacia saplings by February.
Marisa Kinzimba gave assurances that the sector will do everything it can to implement more afforestation actions, with the aim of making the image of the coastal towns increasingly pleasant and inviting to residents and visitors.
There are several acacia trees in the streets of Benguela, which become an attractive landscape feature at the end of the year when they bloom.
For this reason, Benguela is also known as the city of red acacias, as they symbolise the region.
JH/CRB/MRA/jmc
