Ghana to plant 10 million trees seedlings on Green Ghana Day
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, led by Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, has set out another ambitious target to plant some 10 million tree seedlings on the Green Ghana Day, scheduled for Friday, June 7 2024.
This initiative, part of the government’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation program, aims to combat environmental challenges such as climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss.
This year’s theme, “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow,” underscores the focus on sustainability and future well-being. The target for 2024 is to plant 10 million tree seedlings. “We have decided to maintain the 2023 target of ten million trees to ensure maximum survival rate while continuing our efforts to restore our degraded landscapes,” Jinapor explained.
The minister expressed gratitude to the citizenry for their continuous support since the inception of the Green Ghana Project in 2021. He emphasized the critical role of tree planting in environmental conservation, noting, “Trees are the lungs of our planet, vital to our survival and well-being.”
Reflecting on past successes, the Minister recounted that in the maiden edition of Green Ghana Day, over seven million trees were planted, exceeding the target of five million. The following year, the target was raised to 20 million, and with overwhelming support, over 24 million trees were planted.
Last year, the initiative saw the planting of over 10.7 million trees, bringing the total to over 41 million trees planted since 2021.
Field assessment reports show encouraging survival rates: 67% in 2021, 72% in 2022, and 81% in 2023. This translates to approximately 30 million surviving trees to date. The 2024 target remains at 10 million trees to allow for continued nurturing of previously planted trees while maintaining the momentum of reforestation efforts.
This year’s activities include the “One Student One Tree” initiative launched in Kyebi, where every student is expected to plant a tree on Green Ghana Day.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will lead a commemorative tree planting exercise at the Nicholson Stadium in Burma Camp, Accra.
Out of the 10 million trees to be planted, six million will be placed in degraded forest reserves, while the remaining four million will be distributed across farms, communities, road medians, schools, churches, and recreational areas.
The variety of seedlings includes Eucalyptus, Mahogany, Mango, Coconut, Orange, and many more, suitable for the different climate conditions across regions.
Hon. Jinapor has thus called on all Ghanaians, including regional ministers, chiefs, queen-mothers, religious leaders, and the private sector, to actively participate and exceed planting targets. “We urge our friends from the media to carry the message across and mobilize our country in support of this noble undertaking,” he stated.
The Ministry has set up compartments for adoption by private institutions, offering branding opportunities for those who contribute significantly. Seedlings will be available at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, District Offices of the Forestry Commission, and various designated public places.
