Standard Lesotho Bank, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, has planted 2,000 trees in Ha Khojane, Mafeteng as part of its ‘Blue Roots’ initiative to promote biodiversity.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, Standard Lesotho Bank representative Keketso Makara said the project aims to plant one million trees across the country. He said they hope the trees will survive and help keep the environment clean.
Makara encouraged the community to take care of the trees so that future generations can benefit from them, and emphasized the need for communities, stakeholders and government to work together.
He noted that October is Sustainability Month and the bank is reaffirming its mandate of uplifting communities.
Director of Forestry, Mokete Bereng, said the department has been tasked with promoting biodiversity, protecting the environment and atmosphere, and helping communities fight poverty.
He said trees help regulate the environment and atmosphere, creating a microclimate. They also clean the air, provide shade, protect houses from humid air, and help prevent soil erosion.
Trees can also help grow the economy as people can sell wood.
He added that the Ministry is implementing an initiative called the Lesotho Green Recovery Initiative, aimed at restoring the country’s green cover.
