By Ijoo Bosco
The government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry launched on Tuesday a Global environment conservation project in Eastern Equatoria State Capital Torit.
The inception project was launched under the theme, “Promoting sustainable approaches to Ecosystem conservation in the Imotong landscape of South Sudan targeting Ikwoto, Torit and Magwi Counties.
The occasion brought together undersecretaries, MPs from the National and State levels, civil society, partners and state government officials. The officials did not disclose the budget and duration for implementing the project in the selected areas.
Joseph A. Bartel, the undersecretary for Environment in the National Ministry of Environment and Forestry urged the implementing partners to be transparent and accountable to win the trust of their donors.
He stressed the need for partners to ensure the natural resources are sustainably exploited and managed to benefit local populations
“Our mandate in the Ministry of Environment is to ensure that, our natural resources are sustainably exploited and managed for the current and future generation so with this project, we are going to give you the money if you are going to get the trust such that we in the ministry or the government will be treated as credible. We would like all of you who are going to implement this project to be transparent, be accountable and make sure that we have value for the money that we are going to give you we will not allow any cent to be mismanaged,” Said Joseph
Jaden T Emilio Undersecretary for Forestry in the National Ministry of Forestry and Environment said much effort to explore approaches towards improving agriculture, Forestry and Agriculture is needed to educate the grass root population on sustainable management
He appealed for unity and cooperation among stakeholders and the implementing partners in ensuring the project serves the needs of the root population
“This project is proposing approaches for sustainable management sustainable agriculture forestry and also the environment we can only always do all this through education, and education is key we need to unite and work together and it’s on this basis that this project is going to be managed at the same level the national the state and the counties that we mention,” Jaden explained.
Dr. Magret Itoo Leonardo Chief Whip at Eastern Equatoria State transitional Assembly expresses commitment to working in shaping the ecosystem in the State
She encourages communities, and stakeholders to own the project and unite to ensure the project is sustainable
“Today when people talk of unity working together in a coordinative way I think it will have more impact for let us all embrace this program and for us at the assembly level. We also have a lot to do making policy statements from the different unit institutions I think we will work together when we are united and that is how the ecosystem will be achieved in all the located areas for implementing the project,” added Itto.
Ochola Bosco Oringa Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment appealed to the National Government to ensure the project reaches all Counties.
He urged citizens to plant varieties of trees in their households to support ecosystem conservation in Eastern Equatoria State
“Every family household should have at least double trees and then the national trees this project promoting sustainable approaches to ecosystem conservation will not only help Imotong landscape but this one will support the initiative of the state. We would like in one way or the other this project should also benefit the remaining five counties so that they become part and partial of the beneficiaries the tendencies of hungry strike reduces below 50 per cent,” he said.