In celebration of Earth Day 2012 on April 23, U.S. Ambassador Michael S. Owen planted a Black Tumbla (Dialium guineense) tree on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Freetown.
According to a press release dated April 30, 2012, a hardwood tree native to West Africa, the Tumbla’s lumber is often used in canoe construction, and its small edible fruits are also a popular snack in Sierra Leone every spring. This tree will join the thousands of native fruit trees and hardwoods that the U.S. Embassy has planted over the past two years.
While planting the tree, Ambassador Owen noted that a number of trees were cut down in order to clear space for the construction of the present-day Embassy compound, which opened in 2006. Now, six years later, the U.S. embassy is endeavoring to re-plant as many trees as possible in order to provide shade, prevent soil erosion, and protect the local watershed. The Ambassador said that he hopes this tree planting program will inspire all Sierra Leoneans, and he exhorted them to “take charge of nature” by protecting existing forests and replanting deforested areas.
Following the tree-planting ceremony, the Ambassador then served as a judge for the Embassy’s “Dirty Car Challenge,” in which Embassy employees refrained from washing their cars for two weeks in order to conserve water during the driest season in the Sierra Leonean calendar. After awarding first prize to the dirtiest car, the Ambassador remarked that water usage in Sierra Leone, and particularly Freetown, bears its own carbon footprint, because it is hauled in large, fuel-inefficient trucks to residences and business. Recognizing that many Sierra Leoneans still do not have access to clean, running water, the Ambassador once again emphasized that maintaining and conserving Sierra Leone’s water resources should be a critical part of the country’s environmental protection program.
Across the globe, U.S. diplomatic missions are working to increase environmental awareness, promote biodiversity, and support wise stewardship of natural resources.
