Amolatar | Residents of Akwon sub-county in Amolatar district gathered in large numbers on June 10 to celebrate World Environment Day.
They lauded the Facilitation for Peace and Development (FAPAD) and district leadership for choosing their area to host the event.
Residents took the opportunity to acknowledge the vital role of planting and protecting trees in safeguarding their environment.
“Planting trees is not just about beautifying our surroundings; it’s about preserving our future,” shared a villager during the celebrations.
The Akwon sub-county chief praised FAPAD for distributing tree seedlings throughout the community. However, he issued a firm warning to livestock farmers, instructing those grazing animals within school premises to cease immediately.
“Allowing animals to roam on school grounds is damaging our newly planted trees and disrupting learning environments,” he emphasised.
Echoing these directives, Odongo Tonny Blea, the parish chief of Akwon, expressed gratitude to the district for selecting their parish for the event and reiterated that no animals would be permitted to destroy the newly planted trees.
“We must protect these young trees if we want our environment and community to thrive,” he stated firmly.
The LC3 chairperson of Akwon sub-county, Anthony Ogwal Bile, encouraged residents to fully embrace and support ongoing FAPAD projects aimed at environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Representing FAPAD, Okwir Bonny highlighted the significance of celebrating World Environment Day as a powerful platform for raising awareness about environmental protection and inspiring collective action.
Addressing the gathering, Patrick Otile, the District Community Development Officer, made a heartfelt appeal to men in the community.
He urged them to actively plant trees near their homes to reduce the burden on women who often trek long distances searching for firewood—a hardship linked to domestic violence.
“By planting trees close to home, we can ease this burden and promote peace in our households,” he noted.
In an important announcement, Otile introduced the concept of energy-saving stoves, urging residents to adopt these innovations for their environmental and economic benefits.
“Even coffee cultivation plays a crucial role in saving our environment while generating income for our farmers. Let us embrace all these initiatives wholeheartedly,” he encouraged.
The District Natural Resources Officer, Omara Apollo, expressed appreciation for FAPAD’s introduction of smart, safe cooking stoves that require very little firewood, reducing deforestation and indoor pollution.
Omara further revealed that the Amolatar District local government plans to expand similar energy-saving stove projects to other areas not yet covered by FAPAD, marking a significant step toward sustainable energy use in the district.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to protect the environment through practical actions, ensuring a greener, healthier future for the people of Akwon sub-county and beyond.
“Inspired by Nature, For Climate, For Our Future” was chosen as the International theme for this year.
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