The second conference of the African Network of Environment Journalists opened Sunday, with Mauritanian Premier Zeine Ould Zeidane formally declaring the meeting open. The forum, which will focus on the theme “Africa in the face of challenges to the environment,” is jointly organised by Mauritania, Mali, Rwanda and the European Union. Some 800 journalists from 47 countries registered to participate in the two-day forum, which is aimed at raising awareness among decision makers on the urgent need for a continental concerted policy in the field of environment. While opening the conference, the Prime Minister said “Mauritania faces several challenges in the field of environment, namely desertification, issues related to the marine environment, pollution, urbanisation, and negative effects linked to oil exploration.” He stressed the importance of the role of journalists in the area of advocacy for a coherent environment policy that can be implemented throughout the continent. Panapress
