President Salva Kiir and Environment Minister Josephine Napwon during the marking of the World Environment Day at Freedom Hall in Juba on June 17, 2021. Photo Office of the President FB Page

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday launched efforts to restore the environment by commissioning the planting of 100 million trees across the country in 10 years.

Kiir also ordered the ministry of environment and forestry to work with the Juba City Council to address waste management with a focus on cleaning the River Nile.

The announcements come as the country marked World Environment Day (WED) under the theme 'Reimagine. Recreate. Restore' at the Juba Freedom Hall. The WED is celebrated on June 5th every year to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Speaking during the event, President Kiir called upon the Minister of Environment and Forestry Hon. Josephine Napwon Cosmos to work with necessary stakeholders to restore South Sudan's land-based ecosystem.

"To protect the Nile as a source of our livelihood I am calling upon the minister of environment and forestry to work in collaboration with the City of Juba to address these issues. Please use all the administrative tools at your disposal to address these issues of plastic bottles and other waste in the Nile once and for all,” he said.

The president also called on the general public to adopt waste disposal strategies that are environment-friendly.

For her part, Minister Napwon said to enhance the environment's restoration, the government must strive to create sustainable ways of living and working.

“This project will help mitigate the effects of climate change and restore the degraded land-based ecosystem to make them more productive and to be able to provide sustainable livelihood to our rural community," she said. "Therefore, we are appealing to our people across South Sudan and stakeholders to plant trees and clean up the surroundings and take action against harmful effects of environmental degradation."

She mentioned that South Sudan must engage in afforestation, reafforestation, regenerative agriculture, and smart farming practices for the protection and restoration of the environment. - Radio Tamazuj