African leaders, civil society and youth groups marked 2014 Africa
Environment Day and also to honour Wangari Maathai, with aim of accelerating
actions on several environmental challenges on the continent, to be hosted in Maseru,
the Kingdom of Lesotho, with the theme ‘Combating Desertification in Africa:
Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Food Security.’
NaijaAgroNet reports that
the regional host of the 12th annual celebration, which attracted over 200 young
people and high-level experts, reviewed key environmental issues impacting
Africa, including illegal wildlife crime, forest conservation and food
security.
The event which dovetails with Wangari Maathai Day, a celebration of
the life and work of the Green Belt Movement founder is organized by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Government of Kenya and the Green
Belt Movement.
Professor Maathai was Africa's first female Nobel laureate, a champion
of grassroots environmental activism and a fervent defender of biodiversity.
She was also the inspiration for the Billion Tree Campaign, which UNEP began in
2006. Eight years later, 13.8 billion trees have been planted under the
campaign, which is now run by the Plant for the Planet Foundation.
"The Green Economy transition is already well underway in
Africa," said UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim
Steiner. "From plugging into solar power in Algeria and Tunisia to
investing in green funds in South Africa, diverse pathways to greener and
more-inclusive economies are being pursued across the continent."
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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