The Forestry Commission has kick-started this year’s Tree for Life initiative in the Northern Region as part of efforts to restore degraded lands and protect the environment.
Staff of the Forestry Commission, joined by Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive and Lamashe-Naa Alhaji Mohammed Iddrisu, the Chief of Lamashegu, planted trees at the frontage of the Residency of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council signaling the beginning of the month-long exercise in the region.
This year, over 1.1 million trees are expected to be planted in the region as part of the initiative to restore degraded lands across the country.
Mr Ali Adolf John, the Northern Regional Minister, who was represented by Alhaji Takoro during the exercise, appealed to public and private institutions to obtain seedlings from Forestry Commission offices across the region and plant them within their premises and communities.
He urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and Assembly Members to join the exercise by planting trees within their jurisdictions and encourage community participation.
He emphasised the importance of tree planting in environmental protection, climate resilience and the creation of green jobs, saying the exercise would contribute significantly to improving livelihoods and safeguarding natural resources for future generations.
Mr Kwasi Frimpong, the Northern Regional Manager, Forestry Commission, said the Tree for Life initiative was a government initiative that began last year with a national target of planting 30 million trees.
He said the same target had been maintained this year as part of efforts to restore degraded landscapes, especially areas affected by illegal mining activities, deforestation and other forms of environmental degradation.
Mr Frimpong said the initiative also sought to cultivate a culture of tree planting and nurturing them amongst the youth, while raising awareness about the importance of forests and environmental conservation.
Lamashe-Naa Alhaji Iddrisu, who spoke on behalf of traditional authorities in the region, commended the Forestry Commission and the government for sustaining the initiative, describing it as an important intervention for environmental preservation.
He said tree planting had always been an integral part of community life and emphasized need for collective efforts to plant trees and keep the environment clean and attractive.
He said trees played a vital role in beautifying communities and maintaining ecological balance, which makes it necessary for everyone to support the initiative.
He appealed to all residents to embrace the initiative.
He called also on chiefs and other traditional leaders to encourage their subjects to participate actively in the exercise, and to discourage indiscriminate felling of trees.