UNDP and Local Youth Groups Commemorate 2019 Tree Planting Day

Timor-Leste is looking for new heroes, to stand and fight irresponsible acts against our environment

January 28, 2019

Demetrio: I Hope Dili Will Become More Fertile with Youth Contributions.

To commemorate Tree Planting Day which falls on January 13th, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Knua Juventude Fila-Liman and Recycling Promotion Projects, organized a tree planting activity on January 18th, participated by youth volunteers in Motael, Dili

In his opening remarks, the Secretary of State for the Environment, H.E. Mr Demetrio Amaral de Carvalho, said "Timor-Leste is looking for new heroes, to stand and fight irresponsible acts against our environment. We must love this nation and conserve our environment like those who have given their lives for independence of this country.

© Maria Zevonia Fernandes Vieira/UNDP Timor-Leste

Demetrio who is also an environmental activist added that participation of youth volunteers in the activity is crucial. He stated that "Voluntary hard work from young people, will slowly change the bad habits that still exist and are widespread around us. We must learn to be responsible and keep fighting for a better Timor-Leste. With your presence here today, you are taking new steps towards becoming new heroes for the development of this nation. I hope Dili is getting greener with contributions from all of you, "said Demetrio

Representative from the Ministry of State Administration (MAE), Mr. Herminio Moniz Ribeiro, said that ‘Dili Matak’ or Greening Dili is very important. Director Herminio said, "Waste is a big problem in Dili, through social media many people talk about garbage. We who are here trying to do small things that are very positive, show a small example to the community so that they can follow in our footsteps. We are able to set an example and continue to become Dili, a green city, "said Herminio.

© Maria Zevonia Fernandes Vieira/ UNDP Timor-Leste

In the same venue, UNDP Program Manager, Ms Felisberta Moniz, thanked the Government for their participation and for taking part in the activity. She reminded participants that the initiative was organized by volunteer youth groups under the Knua Juventude Fila-Liman and Recycling Promotion Projects. This campaign was part of the UNDP initiative to empower youth, raise community awareness on waste impact and management, and to promote the innovative ideas for reducing, recycling and reusing (3R) plastics waste to prevent soil degradation and sea pollution.

Felisberta recalled that, "when we were little, the city of Dili was filled with jungle trees. When [the trees] produced flowers, the city looked very beautiful, but now the Ai-Kasi Tree is very rarely seen. Therefore, we all want to make a campaign [to prevent] this.

© Maria Zevonia Fernandes Vieira/UNDP Timor-Leste

She encouraged that “as young people there should be awareness and understanding to maintain a clean and good environment in each region. Young people in every village can start something related to the environment, including how to maintain sustainability and promote greening initiatives. We must always advise the community and try to change human behavior [to create] responsible human beings, and [to teach] how to love the environment, " said Felisberta

The tree planting activity was successfully carried out and participated by more than 50 youths from youth groups such as TYIFD, ENVAC, Dili-MUN, 3R and Motael Youth Volunteers. More than 300 trees were planted, including jackfruit, catappa, flamboyant, srikaya/ai-ata and murunga in Motael park, Farol beach and Pantai Kelapa.

© Maria Zevonia Fernandes Vieira/UNDP Timor-Leste