By Dr. Nana Sifa Twum, Media and Communications Expert.
Ghana has embarked on aggressive tree planting to help augment its forest cover. Dubbed “Green Ghana” the initiative seeks to create a collective action toward the restoration of degraded landscapes in the country. It is also to mitigate climate change and inculcate in the youth the values of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits.
The exercise in its second year was launched in 2021, and it is earmarked for the planting of trees across the country.
Last year’s exercise saw more than five million trees planted.
The initiative has been hyped this year and the government has increased the target this year to 20million trees.
Per the figures available at the Forestry Commission of Ghana, eighty-five (85) % of trees planted last year were successfully nurtured.
Among other things, the programme seeks to create and enhance national awareness of the need for collective action toward the restoration of degraded landscapes in the country.
It is also to help to inculcate in the youth the values of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits.
If sustained and promoted effectively, the exercise could be made to enhance livelihoods within communities through engagement in the production of tree seedlings, planting and commercialization.
The euphoria, zeal and fortitude with which Ghanaians accepted and appreciated the exercise have been fascinating.
The President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, 1st March 2022, launched the 2022 edition of “Green Ghana Day.”Reports have it, that on Thursday, 9th June, 2022, some individuals and organisations rushed to offices of the Forestry Commission across the country to pick up free seedlings in readiness for the exercise on Friday, 10th June, 2022. By 7.00 AM on Friday, the exercise began in earnest with people cladded in Green Ghana T-shirts,joyously participating.
The President and other dignitaries planted trees.
This is intriguing, because the need for all and sundry to participate in helping to salvage the nation’s forest has become more paramount than ever.
The forest area of Ghana is estimated at 9.17 million hectares, accounting for about 40% of the total national land. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, 21.7% or about 4,940,000 hectares of Ghana is forested out of this, 8.0% (395,000) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. It is noted that Ghana has the most rapid rate of forest depletion in Africa, because of illegal logging activity that started in the 1990s. Besides, unscientific means of agriculture accounts for a considerable amount of deforestation in the country, while mining, expansion and Infrastructurealso contribute considerably to our forest degradation. The government, especially the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, under the leadership of Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor therefore needs to be commended for such a good project.
As a country, we find ourselves in the most threatened forest area.
Unfortunately, our greatest enemy has been our selfish desires and activities towards the environment, which pollutes, degrades and eventually destroys it. With the introduction of this important exercise, there is the urgent need to work hard to avert the negativity toward our forest. We cannot afford to plant every year and deplete the forest every day. The opportunity is here for all and sundry to help restore our forest today for future generations.
Let us be proud contributors to this phenomenon.
As the President, Nana Akufo-Addo puts it, “the fight against climate change must be a fight against deforestation and forest degradation.
Even though Africa’s contribution to climate change is less,thus 4 percent of global emissions, the continent is determined to do its part to combat it. “It is for this reason that Ghana launched this laudable project, as part of an aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme.
Collective effort and enthusiasm could make Ghana exceed this year’s target of 20 million seedlings next year. Let us be encouraged to even do more.
Nurturing all these seedlings to grow well will pay off in our quest to green the country.
For it is said that, ”the true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit”.