Green initiatives can help Burkina Faso recover from pandemic: minister

By Aurore Bonny

LOME, Togo (AA) - Burkina Faso’s environment minister called on the public Thursday to take actions in favor of forestation, which would help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To mark our adherence and support to this global initiative, I invite Burkinabe to plant trees in safe spaces, create conservation areas, green our cities, develop multipurpose gardens and protect our forests, said Simeon Sawadogo, speaking on the occasion of the World Day of Desertification and Drought.

According to Sawadogo, Burkina Faso will create green jobs for an economic recovery through its commitment to restore 5.16 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) program.

"Protecting and restoring nature is an economic asset for the post-COVID-19 recovery. As countries allocate large sums of money to address the economic impacts of COVID-19, they have an opportunity to invest in this natural capital," he said.

Sawadogo said he considers nature-based solutions "a key component of a green approach that contributes to economic recovery.”

To this end, he emphasized the need to play a key role in shaping the future by minimizing the economic and environmental burden that future generations may face.

“Low-carbon and climate-resilient investments generate much higher economic benefits than investments in traditional infrastructure and fossil fuels,” he said.

"As we face the immediate impacts of COVID-19, we cannot further weaken the foundations of our environmental ecosystems that underpin our economies and sustainable development. Instead, we must look to a more resilient future for all," he added.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the forestry sector plays an important role in the West African country, including economically, socially and culturally, yet annual deforestation amounts to 40,000-60,000 hectares compared to annual reforestation of 1,100 hectares.

One third of the territory of Burkina Faso, or more than 9 million hectares of productive land, is degraded with an estimated progression of about 360,000 hectares per year.