The Ideal of the National Tree Day

Every year on December 5, the Democratic Republic of Congo awakens under a special breath. It is National Tree Day, a moment when the nation is called to pause and listen to the voice of the land. The ideal vision for this day is to see entire communities gather around a shared promise: to bring life back to the forests that protect their future. Under this spirit, one can imagine children with chalk-stained hands trading their notebooks for young seedlings, in both cities and villages.

Everywhere, organizations such as the Ministry of the Environment and others lead tree-planting campaigns. Each tree placed in the ground becomes a gesture of hope, a quiet commitment against erosion, deforestation, and climate change. Sometimes, a particular theme guides the day — this year, it is a reminder that protecting a tree means protecting a climate, a community, a life.

But beyond the bustling cities, another lung has been watching over the land for millennia: the vast and fragile ecosystems of the country. Among them, Upemba National Park stands as a living sanctuary. Its savannas, gallery forests, and marshes are much more than landscapes: they are guardians of climate balance, reservoirs of biodiversity, and refuges for the species that keep the earth in harmony.

On this day dedicated to the tree, every seedling planted is also a tribute to these essential ecosystems. For reforestation alone is not enough — what already exists must be protected. And as long as places like Upemba continue to breathe, Congo can dream of a greener, more stable, and more vibrant future.

Thus, National Tree Day is not just about planting. It is an invitation to remember that nature is a family, and that every tree, every forest, every national park is a precious member we must preserve.

Images: Hugh C. Kinsella, Upemba National Park - 2024

Digest: Antonio Longangi (UNP Communication)