The effects of global warming are well established. City dwellers, farmers, the literate, the illiterate, men, women, children, young and old experience it every day. No one is spared.

It’s not uncommon to experience intermittent “hot and cold” weather on your walkway, on your balcony, at the beach, in your field, under a tree… in short, in the open air.

The iron and concrete walls of our homes have become veritable accumulators of heat during the day in hot regions. They then take advantage of the nighttime hours to “propel” it to the occupants. Pollution is widespread, affecting the air, water, and soil, especially in developing countries.

The seasons, for their part, are practically disrupted. Humans are not the only victims of the aforementioned effects. Other living beings such as animals, birds, fish, and plants are heavily affected. In fact, the entire ecosystem is paying the “big bill” for this warming. 

So, if humans sit back, the asphyxiation that is slowly approaching could prematurely end life. We must fight. We must try to grab the bull by the horns. Humans have an obligation to exist and to maintain the existence of other living beings.

Currently, all multi-sectoral intelligence is being harnessed for environmental protection. It is, in fact, a set of preventive and mitigating solutions to the problem of global warming.

From 2019 to 2021, we had a wonderful experience with Terre Sans Frontières (TSF) in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), TSF was to lead an environmental protection project for the host communities of South Sudanese refugees in Aba, Faradje territory, and those in Biringi, Aru territory.

This project aimed to compensate for the strong pressure exerted by these refugee populations on local resources (wood) and to combat global warming.

Initially, the beneficiaries saw no urgency in such a reforestation project. It took six months of awareness-raising on the merits of this intervention. The community finally took ownership of the project. 28,546 trees were planted, including 20,035 perennial trees and 8,511 fruit trees.

The following species were planted: teak, acacia, eucalyptus, redwood, Argentine oak, cypress, fir, cedar, limba, Isuzu, mango, orange, oxheart, jackfruit, guava, oil palm, passion fruit, papaya, and avocado.

Several approaches were adopted, including: holding 48 radio broadcasts, planting six model forests, promoting fruit trees in 4,378 households, and transferring skills on the tree-planting process to eight groups of community volunteers.

Four years later, the results are quite remarkable, notably: awareness of the usefulness of trees, good growth of forests, renewal of forest species, shade and freshness, production and consumption of fruit in households, production of tree seedlings by local agents.

Since 2024, TSF has been implementing the same activities in the city of Bunia, in partnership with the Bakongolo municipality. Nearly 1,500 trees have been planted exclusively by the beneficiaries, with TSF’s support.

The community welcomes this project, which meets its real needs, and sincerely thanks TSF.