Children Plant 5,000 trees in Cameroon

Children at the first Africa Region Children's conference planted 5,000 trees as a contribution to the Billion Tree Campaign in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon.

Over 300 children from 36 African countries and Norway attended the conference from 30 July to 2 August 2007. The Children's Conference was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection of Cameroon, UNICEF, UNDP and UNESCO. Young Agenda 21 of Norway funded the conference.

The four-day event provided a forum for children to learn about the environment through workshops, plenary sessions, field trips, and tree planting. Children and their chaperones brainstormed solutions to environmental problems, shared ideas about environmental projects for young people, and made lasting friendships.

The children also gave presentations on environmental topics affecting Africa, including climate change, forest and biodiversity, land degradation and desertification, water resources, and waste management. Tree planting and recycling were among the main solutions children identified to help the environment.

In addition to planting 5,000 trees during the conference, the children pledged to contribute to the Billion Tree Campaign by planting trees in their home countries.  Each child committed to plant 10 additional trees when they return.   

Cameroon itself has set an example in tree planting. A UNEP Representative at the Conference, Mr. Strike Mkandla, stated, "The choice of Cameroon for this conference is not an accident. The country retains its magnificent forest cover and rich diversity of plants and animals. It has committed itself to plant 45 million trees under the UNEP Billion Tree Campaign."