Chairman of the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament, Hon. Francis Manu Adabour, made this known during a familiarization visit to the Mole Game Reserve in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region.

He said government was committed to protecting the country’s forest reserves that are almost depleted by bush fires, illegal mining and the felling of trees indiscriminately for commercial activities.

“Government is planning to employ 15,000 people next month to plant trees in all degraded areas of the country’s forest reserves. As part of the plan, the issue of bush-fires and other activities threatening the existence of the forest reserves would be adequately addressed” Francis Manu Adabour said.

The Ahafo Ano South-East constituency Legislator, Francis Manu Adabour, anticipated that the new policy will shore up the numerical strength of the country’s forest guards.

“This will enable the Forestry Commission to be able to deal with the issues of environmental degradation.”

According to him, the familiarization visits offered the Committee’s members the opportunity to identify and proffer solutions to the teething problems of institutions working under the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.

Francis Manu Adabour said the Committee identified inadequate staff and lack of vehicles among other challenges hampering the operations of the Forestry Commission, the Lands Commission, the Administrator of Stool Lands and the Game and Wildlife Commission.

“Lack of vehicles and inadequate staffing situation is seriously affecting monitoring and supervision as well as revenue generation of some of the institutions, and we will talk to the sector Minister to address the challenges confronting them.”

He reiterated the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ plan to use drones and satellites imaging systems to augment its fight against illegal mining.

As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Lands and Forestry Committee is supposed to visit all 10 regions to familiarize with the working environment and conditions of state institutions such as the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, Administrator of Stool Lands and the Game and Wildlife Commission.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The project, which commenced with the planting of 1,000 Acacia trees on the school’s premises is aimed at protecting the school’s vast unused land, and by extension instill into the students, the habit of afforestation, and the importance of trees to humans.

The initiator and National Coordinator of Memory Tree Initiative, Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwa said apart from the  medicinal and  economic values of trees, they protect the environment, hence the need for the younger generation to be encouraged into tree planting.

He admonished Ghanaians to desist from cutting trees since human existence depend on trees.

“Trees are very important for us as human beings. It turns carbon dioxide to oxygen for us to breath, have medicinal values and at the same time have economic values and yet people turn to cut down without replanting, so I entreat every one of us to take the future into our own hands and make our environment very conducive to live in”.

According to Mr Osei-Darkwa, his outfit has taken up the mandate to plant trees because in recent years, deforestation has engulfed the nation and this has led to barren lands that have contributed to the loss of agricultural values. He noted that the first 1000 trees were sponsored by the planting partners of Memory Tree Initiative’; One Tree Planted, whom he hoped would support the 10,000 trees program as well.

The Headmaster of Ningo Senior High School Mr Edmund Botchway, welcomed the project, saying the trees which are being planted are going to serve as a place for relaxation for both students and teachers, and also going prevent people from encroaching the schools land. ‘

He said as an agrarian, it was his expectation this initiative would to be taken into rest of the schools nationwide, to help students know the importance of replanting trees to replace felled ones.

According to the United Nations, despite forests being essential to the balancing of the global ecosystem, to maintaining human well-being and to achieving sustainable development, decades of unsustainable use and management have destroyed, degraded and depleted enormous quantities of the planet’s natural forest.

It estimates that over 13 million hectares of forests continue to be lost each year, hence the need for investment into tree planting to be scaled up.

The world’s forests, according to the UN serve as home to 80 per cent of all land-based species of animals and plants. Around 1.6 billion people depended on forests for their livelihoods. This makes the protection and sustainable-management forests a priority of the global   2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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Credit: Memory Tree Initiative

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The main objective of the exercise was to contribute to the sustainability of the environment and beautify the environment. Hundreds of staff members joined the exercise on Saturday 8^th April 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”L9l9B0TIFOJuGEOMouIlyiMK2PyPPChd”]The CEO of MPS, Mohamed Samara, announced that this initiative is to plant one tree by each employee, and the aim is to hold it for several years to come.

“At MPS, we believe in the sustainability of life. This is the best way to sustain life for the generations to come.  Apart from sustaining life, we are looking at the beautification of the marine area to boost our tourist potential as a nation.” Mr. Samara said.

The HSSE Manager, Solomon Forson, also stated that, the company will soon phase out the use of fluorescent and incandescent lights for LED lights which are accepted globally as eco- friendly.

MPS has instituted various policies to contribute to the global effort of alleviating the harsh effects of climate change and global warming, and contribute to the campaign for a greener, cleaner earth.

MPS currently operates a waste segregation policy, and has significant activities to combat air pollution and conserve energy.

In all, a total of 400 coconut seedlings tree species were planted. The coconut species are known for their ability to withstand dry weather conditions and strong winds, and the trees will also help balance the ecosystem in the new Terminal.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The campaign was targeted at sensitizing the people on the essence planting trees, and their benefit to the environment.

Addressing school pupils at Salem Park at Osu in the Klottey Korley Constituency, the MP said it is the responsibility of the current generation to ensure that the environment is preserved for the younger ones.

She said “we need to ask ourselves how far we have come, and whether we are happy with where we are? What can we do to make things better? Today as part of this celebration, we are going to be planting some trees and there is a saying that, those who plant a tree today are not the ones who will sit under the shade that the tree produces. A lot of the big trees that you see here were planted long before most of you were born.”

The daughter of former president Rawlings charged pupils, teachers and all constituents to cultivate the habit of planting trees because of its immense benefit to the environment.

“That is the beauty of planting a seed and looking after it, it means that you are taking care of future generations,” she said.

The ceremony brought together pupils from twenty basic schools within the constituency to stimulate the national independence day parade.

The legislator symbolically planted a tree to set the pace for the rest to follow.

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By: Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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