AMU in association with Gamo Zone and Town Administration has celebrated ‘47th World Environment Day’ by planting thousands of saplings across its campuses and along town’s main street leading to Konso on 5th June, 2020. The 2nd leg of ‘Green Legacy’ drive was carried on 15th June, 2020, at all identified AMU locations including Sawla Campus and Bere Mountain Watershed.Click here to see the pictures
Arba Minch Mayor, Mr Sebsebe Bunabe, Education Sector Head, Mr Mado Mengesha, Environment and Forest Conservation Sector Head, Mr Tsegaye, AMU top officials, all college deans, directors and some government officials had participated in this go-green campaign that will continue till Ethiopia achieves its defined objective.
This time, the ‘World Environment Day’ was celebrated all across with theme: 'Time for Nature,' with a focus on its role in providing essential infrastructure that supports life on earth and human development.
Taking cue from Ethiopian Prime Minister who has launched this concerted campaign across the nation to become a green society by planting different types of eco-friendly seedlings to combat environmental degradation, AMU has joined hands with Arba Minch and Sawla Town Administrations to plant stipulated 50,000 saplings within AMU campuses, Bere Mountain Watershed and around surrounding town areas.
AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza, gracing the event, said, this important event has been launched along with Arba Minch and Sawla Town Administrations where we would be planting 50,000 seedlings and today is the beginning. This way, AMU is complementing the campaign launched by our Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, to make Ethiopia green, a national go-green campaign meant to make people aware about frightening environmental degradation and educate society on importance of adapting green behavior.
He adds, last year, Ethiopia has planted 4 billion saplings and this year, we have vowed to plant 5 billion saplings across the nation and, in this context, AMU’s role is clearly defined that will be carried out with sincerity. This sustained effort is yielding fruits as you can see many trees providing shelter to people around Limat; it will continue for few years till we achieve objective of national green environmental goals.
Research and Community Service Vice President, Dr Simon Shibru, said, AMU has launched this drive with timely theme, ‘COVID-19 and Environment’; Ethiopia is celebrating 27th edition of ‘World Environment Day’ and I am sure this campaign will have cascading impact on our commitment to build a climate-resilient green economy that will hasten economic development.
Spearheading plantation drive, Community Service Directorate Director, Dr Teklu Wegayehu, said, for us this matters much for AMU, being one of the 1st generation universities, has responsibility to plant 50,000 saplings and, today, we kicked off the drive by planting 2,000 seedlings of five species such as Terminalia (large trees of flowering plant family Combretaceae), Indian trees, Citrus Lemon, Woybetta, Adenium Obesum.
During 2nd leg, we could plant around 5,000 seedlings of different plant species such as Saraca asoca, Azadirachta indica (Neem), Ficus benjamina, Balanites aegyptiaca (bedena) Terminalia, Delonix Regia (Dire Dawa), Citrus Lemon, Woybetta, Adenium Obesum, Bambu, Kori, Coffee, Avocado, Mango, Morninga and Papaya.
Planted saplings came from Mirab Abaya and Arba Minch Seedling Nursery sites. He informed that thousands of seedlings are ready in nine nursery stations situated in seven woredas i.e. Arba Minch Seedling Nursery situated opposite Main Campus, Wajifo & Fura in Mirab Abaya, Chosha, Kacha Kachaso, Bonke; Kamba, Sawla, Chencha and Derashe nursery sites are named as they are situated in those respective woredas.
During 2nd leg, scientific directors and all deans focused in their respective campuses while AMU higher officials and directors along with government officials planted seedlings on Bere Mountain Watershed. This drive will continue till we plant 50,000 seedlings as directed by the government, Dr Teklu said.
On the occasion, we have also distributed significant numbers of same species to the community that includes Olive, Mango, Papaya, Terminalia, Saraca asoca, Woybetta, Bambu, Kori, Coffee, Morninga, Dire Dawa and Qalqalo, Dr Teklu Wegayehu summed up.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)