Latest Embassy News
Press Release
Minister Ngolle Ngolle Joins Ambassador Garvey to Plant Trees at U.S. Embassy and Discuss the Illegal Wildlife Trade
Yaounde, September 11, 2008
Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Elvis Ngolle Ngolle and Ambassador Janet Garvey participated in a tree planting ceremony September 12 on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde. The ceremony was the first step in a significant environmental project at the U.S. Embassy intended to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through the planting of trees. Each of the fifty mango trees planted bore the flag of one of the states comprising the United States of America.
The effort is part of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde’s participation in a worldwide Carbon Offset Program sponsored by the Energy & Sustainability Functional Program, run by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). Each of the fifty mango trees planted bore the flag of one of the states comprising the United States of America.
The Ambassador also used the occasion of the visit to raise the issue of illegal wildlife trafficking, including the recent court case in the United States of a Cameroonian woman convicted of illegally importing ivory from at least 24 elephants. Ambassador Garvey showed the Minister three public service announcements produced by the Department of State staring American actor Harrison Ford. The clips are designed to educate the audience about the environmental damage done by purchasing souvenirs made from endangered animals. Additionally, the Ambassador showed the Minister a service announcement produced by an NGO using Cameroonian artists and musicians to fight the bushmeat trade.
For further information, please contact the Information Section of the U.S. Embassy, Yaounde, Tel. 22-20-15-00, x4162 or x4273.
### end ###