DILI, 12 january 2023 (TATOLI) – The government of Timor-Leste through the Agriculture Ministry and the Secretariat of State for Forestry (SEF) has planted more than 2,000 sandalwood trees in Aiteas Village, Manatuto municipality.
The planting of the sandalwood trees was part of the celebration of the National Sandalwood and Forest Day under the theme: “Planting Tress for A Better Future” which aims to promote Timor-Leste’s native plant ‘Sandalwood’ and protect the species from becoming endangered.
“Today we planted more than 2,000 sandalwood trees in an area of more than two hectares on Mount Balak, Aiteas Village, to continue promoting and preserving our native plant from extinction,” Costa told reporters in Manatuto.
Administrator of Manatuto Municipality, Bernardo Lopes, thanked the Government and partners for choosing Manatuto to celebrate the national day with a sandalwood tree replanting program.
“Through the sandalwood tree replanting program, we can contribute to making our land greener in the future,” he said.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Timor Leste, Okto Dorinus Manik also highlighted the importance of sandalwood to restore and protect the environment.
Manik said that restoration is more than just protecting the natural environment, but also helping ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed to recover.
Journalist: Cidalia Fátima
Editor: Armandina Moniz
Translation: Camilio de Sousa
