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It is with great pleasure that I am here today to welcome this beautiful event coordinated by the non-governmental organization CYMEPA, in cooperation with Eurolife, in the framework of its Corporate Social Responsibility and supported by the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.
This year, this partnership celebrates 20 years of operation in primary schools and kindergartens in Cyprus. The "Learning About Forests (Leaf)" programme is a renowned international educational programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which links the activities of schools dealing with forests and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as defined by the United Nations.
The vision of the project is an increased level of awareness, knowledge and action on the important role that forests play for our planet and reflects all functions of forests: cultural, ecological, economic and social with a focus on people.
The choice of the young age of kindergarten and primary school pupils to participate in the programme is not by chance, since it aims to raise awareness among our little friends, so that from this tender age the interest of young children in relation to forests can be stimulated. In addition, it aims to acquire the knowledge and sensitivity to cultivate forest and environmental awareness, but also to understand the important role that forests play in ensuring healthy living conditions and well-being for survival on our planet. At the same time, to understand the high sense of responsibility we have towards forests and their protection from all hazards, especially fire.
Forests are a symbol of beauty and an indicator of human health, as opposed to the consequences and risk of environmental destruction, especially now with the climate crisis that is taking place on a global scale and threatening humanity. Forests are the natural weapon against the climate crisis, which is why there is a global effort underway to expand forests in order to halt the adverse effects of the climate crisis, which have begun to affect the planet in various forms such as: abrupt climate change with extreme temperatures, sweeping weather and extreme weather events, catastrophic fires even in periods when the danger was supposedly absent and which in their path sweep everything away putting human lives at risk. In our country, with its peculiarly difficult climatic conditions, forests are of particular importance and value.
Forests are a source of life and offer invaluable services and benefits to man. They help to decontaminate the atmosphere and enrich it with oxygen, mitigate the greenhouse effect, prevent erosion and desertification, protect biodiversity, provide protection for flora and fauna, enrich groundwater and filter water, are used for recreation and create conditions of mental balance for humans, and so much more that it would take a long list to list them all.
Friends,
I hope that today's event will be the beginning of a new era in which we will all understand the importance of forests in today's world and the urgent need to protect and expand them. I would like to believe that the young children who are the future of this country, through this project, have gained an increased level of knowledge, awareness and action about forests and their multi-faceted value in all areas.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you for the invitation and congratulate both the organisers of this event and the children from the two schools who will be awarded for the themes of the plays inspired by nature, and in particular for the "Tree of the Year 2023 - the Red Riding Hood".
I wish you every success in achieving the objectives of the programme.
Thank you.
(MG)
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