Dr Issah Sidi, Director of AFTOTECH: "The greening of the Lomé-Kpalimé road has indeed started"

AFTOTECH has launched the tree planting phase in line with the Lomé-Kpalimé road rehabilitation project carried out by EBOMAS since June 2020. To better understand the timing of this phase, the director of AFTOTECH, Dr Issah Sidi, specialist in Hygiene-Safety-Environment (HSE) gives more insight into the obligation to take into account the environmental aspects of today's road projects.

Akondoh Bang'na (A.B.): Why did you choose this moment for planting, on this project?

Dr. Issah Sidi (Dr. I.S.): We chose this period for planting trees to align with the project of rehabilitation of Lomé-Kpalimé and Lomé-Ségbé roads for several reasons.

First, it is a period of year favourable to the development of trees in the south of Togo which enjoys a subequatorial climate of 4 seasons. We are therefore in the great rainy season and the months of May and June are the wettest months in the south of Togo (months in which a large amount of rain falls). The planting period will also cover the national tree day in Togo (June 1).

Secondly, the plantation at this end of the project is more favorable because while the road rehabilitation work is continuing, it is not appropriate to plant in order to avoid this rehabilitation work or the correction work in certain places, do not destroy the trees already planted.

A.B.: How important is the greening of the road?

Dr I.S.: Planting trees along a road or greening a road is of paramount importance. In the area of spatial planning, taking into account the landscape aspect is important in view of the different beneficial roles that landscapes have in our environment. Indeed, the planting of alignment trees is an important element in mitigating the damage caused to the components of the biophysical environment during the establishment of infrastructures as is the case here of Lomé – Kpalimé and Lomé – Ségbé roads.

As far as roads are concerned, prior knowledge of the land is necessary in order to master the criteria to be taken into consideration in carrying out any tree planting activity at a development site.

Planting trees in urban areas has several advantages.

This is the carbon sequestration produced in agglomerations. In other words, the greenhouse gases, the exhaust gases of our vehicles (mainly CO2) that take the roads will be captured by these trees instead of going into the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. There is also the contribution of shadows, i.e. the population, passers-by and residents will benefit from shade of these trees. There is also the improvement of air quality in agglomerations: the microclimate in an area where there are trees is always favourable to humans. The climate is milder where the trees are. It is also important to note the effective monitoring of trees planted: in agglomerations. It would be easier to follow planted trees, since there is a close human presence. But this human presence must really promote the protection of tree plants instead of causing their destruction.

A.B.: What message do you send to the residents and users of this road?

Dr I.S.: We will say that the tree is a living being that man needs, especially in this period of global warming or climate change. For the success of the trees that are planted, we urge the residents and passers-by to make every effort to protect these plants of trees for the well-being of the population and humanity as a whole. Let us not forget this saying "who planted a tree, did not live unnecessarily" And I will add, "who has protected a tree and allowed its growth, has also planted a tree and therefore has not lived unnecessarily.

Interview by A.B.