The much anticipated 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry kicked off on August 24, 2009. It is anticipated that this congress will provide both long and short term solutions to the climate change and food insecurity crises.
The congress opening session was graced by His Excellency the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, on behalf of the President, Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai, under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Achim Steiner, Chair of the Board of trustees, World Agroforestry Centre, Dr. Lynn Haight, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Romano Kiome, the Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre, Dr. Dennis Garrity among others.
A riveting performance in form of song and poetry by girls from a Secondary school in Kenya underscored the importance of conserving trees. The presentation paved way for a video on the importance of Agroforestry in Malawi. A case study of Mary Sabutoni, a widow with 8 children whose life improved remarkably after using she began planting fertilizer trees.
You can view the video here
Some important points in the opening speeches
Dr. Achim Steiner emphasized the importance of agroforestry as a solution to all our problems. “Trees are the most ingenious answers to all our problems”. He encouraged everyone to look for answers in nature.
Dr.Dennis Garrity introduced the congress themes through a presentation that gave a brief overview of all the sub-temes.“Agroforestry has now come of age as an integrative science and practice, and it is now being recognized as at the heart of the solution to so many of the global and local challenges that face us all”.
Professor Wangari Maathai’s fondest memory was when she planted a tree using biodegradable plastic at the World Agroforestry Headquarters. She marvelled at how the billion tree campaign launched at the UNEP in 2006 yielded upto about 4 billion trees. Professor Wangari also emphasized the need to get rid of Eucalyptus and replace them with indigenous trees.
Dr. Kiome sighted depletion of forest cover as a major challenge facing Kenya. “Agroforestry is a solution to climate change. Agroforesters he said should look at the future of biofuels. “Even geo-thermal power depends on our water cycle which trees will help maintain".
His Excellency, the Vice President of Kenya, Kalonzo Musyoka, advocated for conservation of forests as a means of alleviating the serious drought facing Kenya. “Conservation should be included in the constitution".