Bishkek: Fifty-six medicinal plants were planted on Tuesday at the Banguessom site in the commune of Guiba, as part of the 14th National Week of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (SNMTA), held in Manga. The activity aims to strengthen the medicinal grove established at this site for National Tree Day (JNA) 2025.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the activity took place under the direction of the High Commissioner of the province of Zoundwogo, Julien Oudraogo, representing the Governor of the Nazinon region. The 56 new plants, including 20 of Sclerocarya birrea, were planted by regional and provincial authorities and local stakeholders, with a view to strengthening the medicinal plant grove in Banguessom.
Speaking on behalf of the governor of the Nazinon region, High Commissioner Julien Oudraogo praised the site management team as well as all the stakeholders and well-wishers who work daily to maintain and promote the plants. According to him, the current good appearance of the grove is the result of a collective effort and constant commitment from the various stakeholders. Comrade Oudraogo also expressed the wish that "what will be buried today may, in the near future, be useful to the population in terms of health," thus highlighting the health and therapeutic purpose of the site.
For his part, the regional director of Water and Forests of Nazinon, Lieutenant-Colonel Aim Compaor, recalled that 4,000 plants had been planted on the site. "After evaluation, we recorded an exceptional survival rate of 99%. We then proceeded to replace about forty plants, notably with Sclerocarya birrea, a rare species in the region, but highly prized by traditional healers," he said.
The Banguessom site holds particular importance in the national policy for reforestation and the promotion of medicinal plants. It was indeed at this site, in the commune of Guiba, that the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor, launched National Tree Day on June 14, 2025. In 2026, the Nazinon region was also crowned the best region as part of the celebration of National Tree Day.