EPA plants 23 trees in observance of World Environment Day

In observance of its 23rd anniversary as well as World Environment Day, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday hosted a tree planting and beautification exercise in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
The event saw a number of staffers participating in planting 23 trees around the building, while others cleaned the compound and painted bins and other materials to beautify the area.
EPA Executive Director, Dr Vincent Adams explained, “This here is a major milestone for us; of course, the 23 years of anniversary which is today, so it’s a nice kind of coincidence that we have both celebrations on the same day.”
In terms of environmental protection, he said, most people are concerned about oil and gas; however, mining still plays a crucial part when it comes to the environment. Against this backdrop, the Director said he was glad that Guyana has countries to look at as examples, and hopefully not make the same mistakes.
Nonetheless, Dr Adams gave a brief overview of what the Agency had planned to celebrate the occasions. “We have taken up some initiatives which is going around to the community, the local community here and beautify it, sensitising the neighbourhood and we also are going to be handing out bins to all the Government agencies in Georgetown,” he disclosed.
This year’s focus for World Environment Day is air pollution.
The planting of trees, he said, plays an important role in ensuring proper air quality. “Trees absorb, through their leaves, toxins from the environment and they give off oxygen and oxygen is really important … it provides shade that cools the temperature that helps mitigate against global warming or climate change,” the EPA Executive Director reminded.
Dr Adams urged Guyanese to not take the environment for granted and to keep it clean since “if you don’t pay now, you will pay later”.
World Environment Day is the United Nations (UN) day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment. Since it began in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.