15^th April marks Somaliland?s National Tree Planting Day where Somalilanders gather together to fight against deforestation and forest degradation and play thousands of trees across the country with Somaliland President Mr. Muse Bihi Abdi is leading this massive effort.

H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi produced a presidential decree which he assigns 15^th of April every year as Somaliland National Tree Planting Day and is commemorated in the six regions of the country. The motto for this day was ?Plant a tree in the paradise.? This explains how Islamic religion has given priority to trees and environmental conservation. Mrs. Shukri Bandare then invited the president and other guests to the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development where civil society organizations working on issues of environmental and wild life protection.

This big event resulted the distribution of more than 80, 000 trees to plant all parts of the country. Mrs. Shukri highlighted key accomplishments of her ministry in protection the environment. Firstly, the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development has achieved 30% of the efforts aimed to reduce use of charcoal for domestic energy. Currently, 75% Somaliland people consume charcoal for cooking, and cleaning purposes. Secondly, the ministry empowered youth-led environmental conservation and protection networks including Geed Beer Rajo Beer ?Plant a Tree, Plant Hope? initiative through trainings and experience sharing on how to combat degradation and deforestation.

Moreover, the president and the minister jointly addressed other environmental challenges faced by Somaliland during the last three decades. These include excessive water and air pollution in the major cities, and devastation of biodiversity with its structures and overall habitats. As a result of air pollution, climatic conditions lead to climate change where some parts of the country remain extremely hot and others extremely cold. Also, climate change caused other natural disasters in particular cyclic droughts which claimed the lives of people and livestock. In conclusion, Somaliland people are committed to mitigate environmental problems in the country through collaboration and constant support of national and non-state actors? forces.