In commemoration of World Environment Day 2025, observed annually on June 5, Voice of Nature (VoNat) partnered with the South West Regional Delegation of the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED-SW) and several environmental Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to carry out plastic clean up and a mass sensitization campaign against plastic pollution in Buea.
Commemorative activities kicked off with an “Eco Walk” from Checkpoint to Mile 17 in Buea-Cameroon, which drew the attention of community members to the alarming rise in plastic pollution. The walk served as a mobile awareness campaign, encouraging onlookers and passers-by to reconsider their use of single-use plastics and adopt more sustainable habits. All environmental stakeholders at the event, also engaged in a community cleanup at the Mile 17 bus station, one of the busiest public transport hubs in the region. Volunteers collected and sorted waste, focusing particularly on plastic litter, which continue to pose serious environmental and public health risks.
“The main objective of world environment day is to sensitize the population on environmental issues, especially to let people understand that the government cannot protect the environment without them. This year, we are focused on plastic pollution because there are so many of them on our environment, require that we manage them in a sustainable way,” said Set Ekwadi, the Regional Delegate of MINEPDED-SW.
The sensitization and plastic clean up campaign culminated in a tree planting exercise at the Government Teachers’ Training College (GTTC) in Buea.
The Executive Director of Voice of Nature (VoNat), Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho said his organization participated in these commemorative activities in consonance with the goal of the organization, which is to build a greener, safer and more sustainable planet for wildlife and humanity to thrive. “We believe that his cannot be achieved without the sustainable management of plastics. Everybody is called upon to be part of this strive to end plastic pollution. Communities can get involved by practicing recycling and reuse. This delays the plastics from getting into the environment,” he noted.
This year’s World Environment Day was commemorated under the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution”, a call to action aimed at encouraging individuals, organizations, and governments to take urgent steps toward a plastic-free future.
By Jabi Katy Chale