WWF, Tourism Minister and NFA launch 'Pet a Tree, a climate change mitigation and wildlife conservation campaign

WWF Country Director, Mr David Dduli hold the 'Pet a Tree' Placard', he pledged WWF's commitment to supporting the initiative.

NBS tv journalist Canary Mugume plants his pet tree, he named it after olympic gold medalist Peruth Chemutai

Sandra Muhwezi, plants a tree pet during the Launch at Entebbe Zoo.

Martin Mugarra, the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities also the Chief guest plants a tree pet at Entebbe Zoo.

Ms Joan Kantu, The Tooro Kingdom Minister of Tourism plants a tree, Tooro kingdom pledge 5 acres of land to tree planting.

National Forest aunthority Director of Plantation, plants a tree pet at Entebbe Zoo.

 Mr David Dduli, the Country Manager world Wildlife Fund(WWF) plants a tree, WWF committed to suppurting the initiative for it's within their conservation mandate.

Minister of state for Tourism, Martin Mugarra has launched ‘pet a tree’ an initiative by  Africa Tourism and Environment Initiativse today,the 5^th of August 2021  at  Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), in Entebbe. 

While launching the initiative, the Minister pledged his full support to the organisation for the initiative falls directly under the to Uganda’s National development plan of the 40 million tree campaign.

 The Minsiter further elaborated that relationship between tourism and environment as interdependent. For wild life needs the  trees to survive thus the need to conserve already existing trees while planting more.

The  environment, by its natural, cultural-historical, social climate potential, represents the motivation of tourists’ travels, while a clean and unaltered environment cannot exist without practicing Eco- tourism.

The Country Director,World  Wildlife Fund Uganda,(WWF) Mr David Dduli, thanked the founders of ‘Pet a Tree’ for birthing such  a brilliant initiative, and committed the organisations support in a move aimed at tree restoration ‘There is need to mobilize youths to join the initiative  ,  pet names have always been part of the African tradition and it creates an attachment, let’s use pet a tree to bring back the pet names practice’ David said, “we are standing on an opportunity  our ancestors had and lost and its now our opportunity to re create it for future generations, he added as he concluded his remarks.

The Africa Tourism and Environment initiatives Board Chairperson  also Uganda Hotel Owners association Board chair Mrs Susan Muhwezi, Thanked NFA, WWF, UWEC and the ministry of Tourism for supporting such an amazing initiative that focuses on restoring our biodiversity, he talked of how she has continuously supported such initiatives in her individual capacity and will continue to do so, she challenged government and development partners to continuously support young people initiatives that develop the country.

The UWEC Executive Director James Musiguzi advised Ugandans to make it a norm to plant trees on special occasions like Weddings, burials, Birthdays etc.

He added ‘The planet demands that human beings not only think in short term but across generations perhaps for the first time in the history of mankind, we need to acknowledge the underlying challenge of  climate change’

The State  Minister for Environment Beatrice Anywar was represented by Stuart Maniraguha,  The Director Plantation at NFA, emphasised the need to  plant atleast 124 hactares of land annually in a move aimed restoring the lost forest cover, He said within a 30 year period, the tree population had reduced from 24% to 8% but says there is now a ray of hope with such initiatives, the impact is being being felt by an increase in 10% forest cover since 1990.  Pledged NFA’s support to the ‘Pet a tree’ campaign for it directly falls in government’s National development plan of  planting 40 million trees. He further called for renewed awareness and participation of every Ugandan and organisation to join Climate change campaigns in a move aimed at restoring nature. 

The Tooro Kingdom Minister for Tourism, Joan Kantu, on behalf of the Kingdom accorded the Pet a Treee 5 acres of land to plant a forest in Tooro using the Tooro Pet names. ‘ We are listening to nature’s cry , this forest is to ensure our grand children appreciate biodiversity like we have enjoyed it’, We need to listen to nature’s cry, she added.

Amumpaire Moses Bismac, the Founder Pet a Tree, an Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives appreciated government agencies, WWF, National Forestry Authority, Uganda Wildlife Education Center, (UWEC), Uganda wildlife Authority for supporting the #PetATree campaign. He called upon fellow journalists and all Ugandans to atleast have a tree Pet.

‘In a special way, I appreciate the support of WWF on its environmental initiatives and support to this PET a Tree campaign.  

Pet a Tree is a project by Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives on sustainable and eco-tourism.

ABOUT PET A TREE

Pet a Tree is an  environment conservation initiative under a Non-Government Organization, dubbed Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives (ATEI )

The Pet a Tree campaign involves taking trees as friends and pets right from planting them, Baptizing / naming them, Nurturing/watering them, celebrating their birthday, taking pictures of them and sharing facts about them to the world.

When you consider tress as living organisms, then that is when you start treating them as such.

Even when trees are different from mammals, birds and insects, we can join efforts to start minding about tree health and treat them more like pets by caring for them, feeding, irrigating and pruning them. 

HOW IT WORKS

The Pet a Tree campaign involves taking trees as friends and pets right from planting them, Baptizing / naming them, Nurturing/watering them, celebrating their birthday, taking pictures of them and sharing facts about them to the world.

When you consider tress as living organisms, then that is when you start treating them as such.

Even when trees are different from mammals, birds and insects, we can join efforts to start minding about tree health and treat them more like pets by caring for them, feeding, irrigating and pruning them.