Pierre Hele plants trees in Salak

During the launch of the 2015 edition of the World Day of desertification and drought at Maroua, the Minister of Environment, Natural Conservation and Sustainable Development (Minepded), Pierre Hele said preliminary measures are taken by the government to safeguard the environment.

As part of the celebration that focuses on "the goal of food security for all through sustainable food systems," Pierre Hele, who was accompanied by the governor, Midjiyawa Bakari conducted a meeting at the lycée classique de Salak, 15km from Maroua where 500 trees were planted over an area of 2 hectares.

The choice of the Far North to host the celebration of the 21st World Day against Desertification and Drought was due to the dangers the environment is exposed to.

Located in the Sahelian zone and close to the desert, this region is most affected by climate hazards. Erratic and poorly distributed rainfall due to a long dry season lasting 8-9 months with maximum daytime temperatures of up to 43-44 ° C severely compromise agricultural productivity.

These factors which grafted other plagues such as locusts, grain-eating birds and pachyderms accentuate food insecurity with its corollaries malnutrition.

Adverse human activities are not left out: the uncontrolled destruction of vegetation cover in search of firewood, the use of banned plastic packaging and bushfires are conditions that contribute to land degradation leading to the reduction in food production.

Since 2008, the revival of the Sahel green operation has restored 500,000 hectares of land through reforestation in the Far North region. The distribution of thousands of homes improved populations helped to curb the phenomenon of excessive cutting of trees.

The creation of 35 forest reserves in the region and the transfer of resources to regional and local authorities helped to empower people at the base, on the urgent need to safeguard their environment.

It was also an opportunity for Minepdep to remind creators of bushfires, users of non-biodegradable plastic packaging and those who cut trees illegally the dangers their actions cause.

These behaviors, he pointed out, "are real scourges that accelerate the erosion phenomenon, degrade plant cover by depleting the soil and threaten food security”. He added that, it is clear "these offenders are responsible for our misfortunes."

The Environment Minister has promised to continue the hunt for those who improperly cut trees, start bush fires and use banned plastic packaging.