News Date : 03 December, 2025
Sustainability Takes Centre Stage at BUAN During RUFORUM AGM
Sustainability took centre stage at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) on Wednesday as the institution hosted the 21st RUFORUM Annual General Meeting Tree-Planting Ceremony. The event brought together ministers, diplomats, university leaders, development partners and youth climate advocates, all united by a shared commitment to advancing Botswana’s green transition and environmental resilience.
In his welcome remarks, BUAN Vice Chancellor, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele, underscored that sustainability is not an abstract concept at BUAN but a defining institutional ethos. He noted that sustainability is integrated into the university’s teaching, research and daily practices, forming a central pillar of its identity. With characteristic humour, he welcomed guests to BUAN’s Blue Gum Tree Park, observing that it is “the only place on campus where even the trees look like they have PhDs.”
Professor Mosepele explained that tree planting represents a holistic sustainability intervention addressing climate adaptation, mitigation, environmental education and community engagement simultaneously. He described the activity as both strategic and transformational, reinforcing BUAN’s commitment to climate action, the circular economy and stewardship of natural resources. Referencing the proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now,” he emphasised the long-term importance of the initiative for future generations and encouraged guests to help make BUAN “greener, cooler and more resilient, one seedling at a time.”
The keynote address by the Minister of Higher Education, Honourable Prince Maele, further highlighted the centrality of sustainability to Botswana’s future. He stated that the event’s theme, “Green Transition and Circular Economy in Botswana,” reflects a national direction that must be intentionally shaped. With Botswana facing intensifying droughts, land degradation and expanding urban pressures, the minister noted that sustainability is now an imperative rather than an option. He emphasised that the country also has significant opportunities to lead the region through evidence-based land rehabilitation, nature-based solutions and environmentally conscious innovation.
Honourable Maele commended BUAN for cultivating graduates who are prepared to act as custodians of Botswana’s natural capital. He explained that a circular economy extends beyond recycling and requires a reimagining of how society uses land, water, energy and natural resources, striving for systems that regenerate themselves and minimise waste. Describing tree planting as a symbolic and practical expression of this philosophy, he called it an investment that grows quietly yet powerfully over time.
Addressing young people, the minister noted that they stand at the forefront of global environmental repair. He encouraged them to embrace sustainability not only as an academic pursuit, but as a lifelong responsibility that begins with simple, meaningful acts such as planting a tree.
The ceremony concluded with the planting of indigenous and climate-resilient tree species across the BUAN grounds and Boitumelo Primary School, leaving a tangible mark of the shared commitment to environmental restoration. The event stood as a clear declaration that sustainability is both a national priority and a collective responsibility one that institutions like BUAN and partners across Africa are determined to advance with purpose and vision.