By Gabriel Agbeja
The Rotary Club of Lomé Zenith, in partnership with the People Planet and Peace Foundation, has planted mangrove trees along the coastline of Aneho, a coastal town in southeastern Togo.
Mr Landry Amewounou, President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Lomé Zenith, said on Sunday that the initiative was aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding, coastal erosion, storms and mudslides in the area.
According to him, the organisations selected the location to complement ongoing efforts by stakeholders to address the impact of climate change in Togo.
Amewounou, a solar energy photovoltaic expert, said the Togolese government was working toward increasing the adoption of renewable energy as part of its energy transition agenda by 2030.
Also Speaking, Mr Eusebio Cesar, Project Manager of the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Management Programme, commended the Rotary Club and the foundation for the tree-planting initiative.
Cesar said the WACA programme had contributed to creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods in coastal communities.
He added that the programme also promoted sustainable management of marine and coastal resources through experience-sharing and networking among stakeholders.
“WACA continues to strengthen a regional dynamic focused on sustainable solutions for the resilience and economic development of Africa’s coastal areas,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Olatunji Francisco, Lead of the Climate Beyond Borders Caravan (CBBC), an initiative of the foundation, said similar projects had been implemented in Nigeria.
According to him, collective action is required to address the effects of climate change across the continent.
Francisco said CBBC participants planned to visit more African countries in the coming weeks.
“CBBC is a Pan-African, youth-led initiative designed to promote climate justice, cross-border cooperation and green economic transformation across the continent,” he said.
In a related development, Mr Hermann Amadoto, District Governor Nominee for Rotary District 9103 (Togo, Benin and Niger), said Togo would pursue a “Waste-to-Wealth” initiative aimed at creating employment opportunities for young people.
He said plans were underway to establish recycling firms to process plastic waste locally instead of exporting it for recycling abroad.
According to him, the initiative would generate jobs and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Amadoto pledged support for the successful implementation of CBBC activities in Togo and beyond.
Similarly, Mr Modeste Messavussu-Akue, President of the Rotary Club of Lomé Zenith, commended CBBC members for implementing climate-related projects in Togo.
He urged members of the initiative to join Rotary, noting that both organisations shared similar objectives.
According to him, Rotary’s seventh area of focus is about community development supporting the environment.
Also, the CBBC Secretary in Nigeria, Miss Olabisi Kumuyi, thanked stakeholders for supporting the initiative’s activities in Togo.
Kumuyi said the team would proceed to Ghana for the next phase of the caravan’s activities. (NAN)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
