A UN agency launched a tree planting campaign urging residents and organisations to keep Juba clean and green.
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) launched today the campaign Keep Juba Clean and Green to make the capital of South Sudan a better place for all to live.
UNEP Sudan chief, Robin Bovey, told SCR News that the idea behind the campaign was to make the local people to join hands with institutions to plant trees in Juba to protect the soil from erosion.
Mr. Bovey said that 500 thousand trees would be planted to replace the ones destroyed in the past.
GoSS vice president Riek Machar said his government formed the new ministry of Environment to oversee the protection of nature.
Dr. Machar added that Juba residents used mainly firewood and charcoal for fuel.
Mr. Riek urged institutions working for better environment to provide enough human resources to make the region more beautiful and wealthier.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit said in his inauguration speech that environment was among the 13 priorities for his government.
The Keep Juba Clean and Green Campaign was organized by UNEP, Department for International Development and UNICEF to rectify the environmental problems caused by the rampart and illegal trees cutting.