choice of these premises, the mumbwa caves, was in recognition of their historic and scientific significance. the caves are an exceptional site because of the deposits and preservation of organic remains found here. the site preserved human and animal bone in some of its 8 - meterdeep deposits. the caves are an important archaeological site as they are believed to have provided shelter to prehistoric man and, are an important centre for present day cultural activities as demonstrated by the revival of a number of kaonde - ila traditional ceremonies being conducted at the site. further, the bank was given an assurance that resources have been secured for drilling of a borehole in the area. with water provided, we can rest assured that the saplings will grow into a forest. as i conclude, i want to urge business houses in the country to develop a culture of planting trees in their various areas of operation. this act will contribute to global reforestation efforts, repair the damaged ecosystem, and engender the culture of climate change mitigation. let me end by appealing to all of us to save trees in order to save our lives. i may venture say, many of us react to the presence of trees with a pleasant, relaxed, and comfortable feeling. the bank of zambia will remain steadfast in supporting sustainable practices. allow me to extend our sincere gratitude to their royal highnesses, the national heritage conservation commission and all other stakeholders who contributed in one way or another to making this exercise possible. thank you for listening. god bless! 3 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches

are able to and work towards a sustainable future. planting trees may seem like a small gesture, but in the long run, we believe, it has a significant impact. each tree we plant today is an investment in the wellbeing of our community and generations to come. the benefits of our efforts today will contribute to cleaner air, improved biodiversity, and a more resilient ecosystem. distinguished guests, allow me to reflect a little further on the importance of planting trees. trees are the lungs of our planet which provide us with oxygen. as antonio guterres, the united nations secretary general, once said " forests are lungs of our planet which draw in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen. " trees play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance. we need to cultivate a culture of planting trees to mitigate the effects of climate change. consequences of deforestation are many and dire. these include soil degradation, water conservation and ozone layer depletion, an increase in the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide and extinction of plant species, among others. distinguished guests, since trees play an important role in human life, they must be preserved at all times. failure to do that will result in climate change continuing to impact negatively on human survival. it has been observed that cutting down of trees is not only rampant here in mumbwa, but in many other parts of the country as well. good corporate citizenship calls for a conscious alignment of business operations with social, environmental and economic responsibilities to the benefit of both society and the business. i would like to urge everyone, individually and collectively, to develop a culture of planting trees. this is an important way we can contribute to the health of our planet. for us as an institution, the concept of csr requires us to raise our social consciousness in the communities we operate in. through this awareness, underpinned by our values, we hold ourselves accountable for the impact our operations have on the environment, seek ways to uplift our society and promote sustainable development. distinguished guests, i am happy to inform you that the bank deliberately chose to partner with the national heritage conservation commission ( nhcc ) knowing that the saplings we are planting today will be nurtured - taken care of and provided with an environment to grow into mighty trees that will stand for years to come. 2 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches distinguished guests, you may also wish to note that the bank was presented with a number of sites to be considered for support. the