Aileu, 13 january, 2021 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste celebrates the National day of Sandalwood and Forests 2021 by planting of the sandalwood trees and new Arabica coffee seedlings inside the Agroforestry Center of Quinta Portugal in Aileu.
The propose of the event is to reinforce the crucial role of forests in combating climate change, in the conservation of biodiversity and in economic development Demonstrating the effort of the Government of Timor-Leste in collaboration with member states of the European Union to ensure support to rural communities in the valorization and diversification of national forests and plantations
The date marks the distribution of more than 70,000 trees produced in the nursery of Quinta Portugal in Aileu and in 7 more small nurseries of local producers supported by the Projeto Quinta Portugal and the beginning of the distribution of agroforestry seedlings produced by the Projeto Quinta Portugal for the 2021 planting season.
Quinta Portugal and GIZ cooperate between 2019-2022 to produce and distribute more than 200,000 trees of agroforestry species aimed at beneficiaries of the Ai Ba Futuru Project in the municipalities of Manatuto, Baucau, Viqueque and Lautem.
The European Union Ambassador, Andrew Jacob said The European Union is with those who are concerned with improving the environment and protect the forests.
“We are proud to work with the Timorese Government to share our concern for a greener world. Ai ba Futuru is supporting young entrepreneurs living in the rural context and is helping communities to tackle the economic constraints generated by the pandemic” Andrew Jacobs said.
Ai ba Futuru (Partnership for Sustainable Agroforestry – PSAF), is a project co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor-Leste.
The 5-year project targets marginalized families in 40 selected villages in the municipalities of Manatuto, Baucau, Viqueque and Lautem, and aims to plant 3 million trees.
The Projeto Quinta Portugal, located at the Quinta Portugal Agroforestry Center in the municipality of Aileu, Posto Aileu Vila, Suco Seloi Malere, Hularema village, aims to contribute to the improvement of national food security, by increasing the incomes of rural communities, through the diversification of its agroforestry production and the strengthening of market chains, stimulating the practice of conservation techniques and sustainable management of natural resources.
In Spite the Participants of the event include National Director of Community Forests, Mario Godinho, Ambassador of the European Union ,Andrew Jacobs, Cooperation Attaché of the Embassy of Portugal in Timor-Leste,Cristina Faustino, the Director of the Municipal Agricultural Services of the Municipality of Aileu, and representatives of GIZ and Camões, IP.
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