Dili, 27 August 2026 (Media Democrancia) – The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, through the General Directorate of Forestry, held the second workshop on the development of the ASEAN Initiative to plant one billion trees and its implementation plan.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, as a member of ASEAN we work in all sectors, but are most connected to forestry work. Through MAPPF we will have cooperation in the future to plant one billion seedlings.
“According to the plan that the ASEAN Secretariat presented today, we will work together and link it to our strategic plan, just as they talked about the ASEAN Strategic plan which will also be linked to the ASEAN Government program and also our National Strategic Plan 2021, 2011 and 2013. That is why today you all know that the technicians here are from all agencies and the private sector who are present here to sit together later, give thoughts and ideas on how we can best work together with our communities in the field,” said the MAPPF Minister.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry of Timor-Leste, Jose Vieira de Araujo, the plan for cultivation and also caring for the seedlings will especially involve working together with communities in the field. This will cover from this year until 2030, and that is why we want to make an integrated plan with relevant institutions, international and national agencies, and also the private sector.
“As for seedling cultivation, you are all accompanying it and it is going well, especially in the field. In our awareness, our communities also need to step up strongly because the technicians are working on everything from the government level. We are together as one government, one state. We coordinate with each other for the implementation of cultivation which is already ongoing. Our communities must be aware of how not to burn and destroy the land and to take care of our plants because this will be good for our generation and for our Timor-Leste,” said the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Jose Vieira de Araujo at Palm Springs, this Thursday (27/08).
He said the Ministry of Agriculture always accompanies work in the field and raises community awareness as well, because technical work comes from the government.
“The total number of plants prepared is 20,000. From the government’s intervention we have laws in the field to be together with our communities and local authorities such as village chiefs, suco chiefs, also representing the municipal structures so that our messages reach our units to take care of our environment. Because this is not just about destroying one or two people, it’s about everyone’s life. When our technicians work too much according to the rules, we have forest guards to process them. This is what our directors and technicians have been doing in the field,” he said.
Because of the government’s intervention together with communities and local authorities to be able to work together according to the existing rules to care for plants so as not to destroy everyone’s lives.
“When we talk about forests, we also know about the aspects of livestock work. As I said earlier, first, the government or state is one, so we work together. When guards or rangers also monitor animal transit posts, that is together with us to work in an integrated way with the forests. They can do animal checks, animals that enter without a license. You can see it like on social media, sometimes animals go missing, so our guards are doing their job. There are many challenges they face, but it does not kill their willingness to continue to control in the field. The challenges or obstacles they encounter are not a barrier for technicians to do their work, and also for the government world now. We think about how we must work so we can be together, united,” he stated.
He continued that the government and state are one so that we can work together for guards or rangers to also monitor animal transit posts and work in an integrated way with the forests.
“Thinking about socialization, we raise it from our own lives and awareness, unity to take care of plants. We will continue this and we will keep carrying out this socialization. You all are accompanying it and we continue until now even though we face challenges, whether there is money or not. That is why we continue to ask technicians to go down to the field. We continue to work together with our unity, local authorities in community societies,” he said.
Because in this socialization there is knowledge and unity to care for plants to help improve community livelihoods when you all continue to accompany it.
Reporting: Trainee Fizania
Photo: Trainee Fizania