Ouagadougou: The Ioba provincial environment directorate organized the first edition of the provincial non-timber forest products (NTFP) day, under the presidency of High Commissioner Bernadette Adenyo née Sermé on June 8, 2024 in Dano .The Ioba provincial environment directorate commemorated World Environment Day 2024 in a delayed manner. It was a fair called 'provincial non-timber forest products (NTFP) day' which marked this celebration.This first edition, sponsored by the president of the special delegation of the commune of Dano, Denis Zanré, was organized in partnership with the federation of women's development associations of the southwest (FADEFSO).The opening of the first edition of the fair for the promotion of NTFPs was the subject of an official ceremony at the Dano Women's Museum.Several interventions and cultural events punctuated this ceremony. The provincial director of the environment of Ioba, Gnindjounté Kambiré, noted the difficulties of mobilizing financial resources for the organ ization of the fair.According to him, it is thanks to the determination of the provincial and municipal authorities of Dano that the initiative was implemented.Mr. Kambiré announced that the provincial NTFP day will be organized every year. He thanked the women from the communes of Ioba and the provinces of Bougouriba and Poni for their participation.The Dano PDS and sponsor of this edition, Denis Zanré appreciated the symbolic nature of this activity in this context where human action greatly destroys the environment.This has a negative impact on biodiversity and even threatens the existence of the human species, he continued. For the Dano PDS, the holding of the NTFP fair by women will improve their purchasing power.The southwest regional environment director, Ismaël Rouamba, encouraged organic production. For him, the production of NTFPs should not affect the trees. This is why he urged them to contribute to taking into account the preservation of the environment.As for the High Commissioner, B ernadette Adenyo / Sermé, she declared that World Environment Day is celebrated to challenge all inhabitants of the earth on the protection of the environment. This fair is part of the demonstrations of support for producers and processors of NTFPs in Ioba, she said.The theme of the first edition of the provincial NTFP day, 'role of NTFPs in a resilient Burkina', appeals to the entire population. According to the High Commissioner, NTFPs play an important role in terms of food and job creation.They contribute to the fight against poverty. For populations, especially in rural areas, NTFPs constitute a means of subsistence and improvement of their health, continued Bernadette Adenyo.She praised the bravery of women who fight every day to flourish through the production and processing of NTFPs.Ms. Adenyo thanked Plan Burkina / Bureau de Gaoua for its technical support, FADEFSO and other cooperatives for their collaboration.She congratulated the provincial environment directorate of Ioba and its partner s for this noble initiative of organizing a fair for the promotion of NTFPs. In the NTFP exhibition stands, soumbala, shea butter, soap, essential oils, juices and wine from lianas, grapes, honey and liqueurs made from wild fruits were presented.The exhibitors received numerous visitors and buyers during the 48 hours of the fair.Burkina Faso Information Agency SZ/dnk/ataSource: Burkina Information Agency