Sana'a - Saba:
A meeting in the capital Sana'a on Monday, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Administration and Local and Rural Development Mohammed al-Madani, discussed activities implemented during the afforestation season and plans to enhance vegetation cover in various provinces.
In the meeting, which included Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Dr. Radwan al-Rubai Health and Environment, Dr. Ali Shaiban; Chairman of the Agricultural Cooperative Union, Mubarak al-Qili; and a number of agricultural and environmental leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the government, through the National Committee for Economic Empowerment, is working on parallel tracks to find sustainable alternatives for those who rely on cutting trees as a source of income.
He pointed out that protecting the environment is a national and societal responsibility that requires integrated efforts. He emphasized the importance of providing central support to local authorities to enable them to implement afforestation plans, in addition to exploiting the autumn season to expand green areas.
He urged the provision of peace tree and jujube tree seeds and the expansion of seedling production, contributing to building a sustainable environment that serves future generations.
Al-Madani noted the role of the media, preachers, and dignitaries in raising environmental awareness, stating that Yemeni society, with its rural nature, is qualified to lead the agricultural-ecological transformation, especially with community mobilization through the Agricultural Cooperative Union.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources announced the launch of a national project to plant one million seedlings during the current agricultural season, stressing that the ministry had actually begun implementing the project last March, along with planting 100,000 jujube seedlings in Tihama and Saada, through the ministry's own efforts and the community.
Al-Rubai explained that the ministry had established new nurseries in provinces that lacked them, especially Al-Jawf, to strengthen the infrastructure of the agricultural sector, emphasizing that agricultural awareness programs also include summer centers, as part of building a generation with agricultural awareness.
For his part, the Minister of Health and Environment pointed out that the deterioration of the vegetation cover impacts public health and the environmental situation, which requires concerted efforts and the development of solutions and alternatives to prevent excessive logging and raise environmental awareness of its risks and harms.
Dr. Shaiban emphasized the need for coordination between various stakeholders to provide a healthy and safe environment, calling on all members of society to assume their national responsibilities in preserving and protecting environmental resources.
The Chairman of the Agricultural Cooperative Union affirmed the union's commitment to implementing the directives of the Ministry of Agriculture and development partners, highlighting the importance of implementing afforestation campaigns through agricultural cooperatives to ensure direct access to farmers and achieve a real impact on the ground.
| more of (Local) |