GABORONE, March 29– Botswanan forestry authorities on Thursday hosted tree-planting activities at Ntlhantlhe village, situated some 60 km south of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to mark the 2026 International Day of Forests. “By introducing fruit trees into our landscapes, we are deliberately linking environmental restoration with food security, improved nutrition, and income diversification,” Wynter Mmolotsi, Botswana‘s minister of environment and tourism, said during the commemoration event. In Botswana, forests and woodlands remain central to rural livelihoods and national development, as they provide fuelwood for household energy, grazing for livestock, wild fruits and medicinal plants that enrich diets, as well as timber and non-timber forest products that sustain local economies, he said. Moreover, the minister said forests underpin ecotourism and biodiversity conservation, both of which are critical pillars of Botswana‘s national economy. This global day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, is held annually on March 21 to highlight the vital role forests play, not only as part of natural heritage but also as strategic assets that drive economic growth, resilience and sustainable development, he said.
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