Advertisement
Ghana
has
made
significant
strides
in
forest
restoration,
President
Nana
Addo
Dankwa
Akufo-Addo
has
said.
Since
2016,
he
said
the
government
has
established
over
one
million
hectares
of
forest
plantations,
enrichment
planting,
and
native
tree
seedling
projects.
These
efforts
have
created
rural
employment
for
thousands
and
supported
food
security
through
agroforestry
initiatives,
he
said.
President
Akufo-Addo
wrote
on
his
Facebook
page
that
“Our
Green
Ghana
Day
Initiative,
launched
in
2021,
has
seen
the
planting
of
over
52
million
trees
in
just
four
years,
thanks
to
the
enthusiastic
participation
of
citizens,
schools,
and
the
private
sector.”
Despite
these
achievements,
much
work
remains,
Mr
Akufo-Addo
further
stated.
“We
need
increased
and
dedicated
financing
to
sustain
our
efforts.
The
tropical
domain,
home
to
nearly
half
of
the
world’s
forests,
cannot
fund
the
required
$393
billion
annually
alone.
“We
must
pool
resources
and
incentivize
local
communities
to
protect
forests.
Let
us
think
globally
but
act
locally,
prioritizing
environmental
stewardship
alongside
development.
Ghana
remains
committed
to
leading
in
forest
conservation
and
restoration,
thus
helping
to
ensure
a
sustainable
future
for
all,”
he
said.
Last
Friday,
5th
July
2024,
at
the
closing
ceremony
of
the
International
Conference
on
Afforestation
and
Reforestation
in
Brazzaville,
President
Akufo-Addo
told
African
leaders
to
take
decisive
action
to
implement
sustainable
forest
management
policies,
combat
illegal
activities,
and
support
the
livelihoods
of
communities
dependent
on
these
ecosystems.
Mr
Akufo-Addo
said
investing
in
research
and
technology
to
enhance
our
understanding
of
forest
dynamics
is
also
crucial
to
improving
our
reforestation
efforts.
Mr
Akufo-Addo
said
he
had
the
honour
of
addressing
a
remarkable
gathering
of
leaders
dedicated
to
preserving
our
planet’s
forests.
“Our
forests
are
vital
ecological
assets
and
an
integral
part
of
our
heritage
and
identity.
We
must
protect
and
restore
them
for
future
generations,”
the
President
wrote
on
his
Facebook
page
after
the
event.
In
Africa,
he
added,
“our
forests
are
invaluable.”
“They
provide
ecological,
economic,
and
cultural
benefits
that
are
essential
to
our
way
of
life.
However,
they
are
threatened
by
illegal
logging,
agricultural
expansion,
and
climate
change.
“As
leaders,
we
must
take
decisive
action
to
implement
sustainable
forest
management
policies,
combat
illegal
activities,
and
support
the
livelihoods
of
communities
dependent
on
these
ecosystems.
Investing
in
research
and
technology
to
enhance
our
understanding
of
forest
dynamics
is
also
crucial
to
improving
our
reforestation
efforts,”
the
President
stressed.