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"Whoever plants trees The loves more and more himself. "- Thomas Fuller
Global forest resources continue to decline. Global deforestation continues at an alarming rate: 7 million hectares of forest are destroyed each year.
On March 1, 2019, the United Nations launched a global "call to action" to mobilize the political and financial support needed to restore the world's deforested and degraded ecosystems over the next decade to foster the well-being of 3.2 billion people worldwide.
With this appeal approved by the UN General Assembly, more than 2 billion hectares of forest – an area larger than the South American continent – will be restored from 2021 to 2030. L & # 39; Call for Action has focused on intensifying restoration work for the severe degradation of landscapes, including wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, worldwide. It is to place landscape restoration work at the top of national priorities, relying on public demand to act on issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and other issues. the resulting impacts on economies and livelihoods.
For a developing country like Ghana where, according to the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, forests cover about 40% of the total national land area and provide livelihoods for more than 2.5 million people. people. Yet, human activities and high levels of exploitation continue to accelerate deforestation, this call for action could not be done better – especially in the run up to the realization of the Sustainable Development Program in the country. 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to Forestry Commission data, with an annual loss of 3% of forest cover, Ghana's forest resources are subject to pressures from mining, logging and other human activities. At this speed, Ghana runs the risk of remaining in its current net CO2 emitter status if it fails to curb deforestation and forest degradation, FC feared.
Launched on July 1, 2018 in Tamale, the Green Republic Project (TGRP) is a grbadroots effort by young people to make Ghana greener. The initiative, led by a young activist, Nana Osei Darkwa, aims to plant 20 million trees across Ghana by 2028.
The project has so far seen the planting of about 7,500 trees in selected communities in Ghana, and plans to plant 100,000 trees in the eastern and northern regions in 2019.
"The Green Republic project is our response to the challenge of the climate crisis that threatens the existence and development of the human being. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) mandated humanity to do more for forests in order to eliminate deforestation and boost reforestation efforts. The TGRP aims to convince many young, influential and powerful people to get involved and help plant 20 million trees by 2028, "says Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwaa, manager. of the Green Republic project.
"The devastating effects of the Galamsey (illegal mining) threat on the environment, particularly the destruction of large tracts of forests for the illegal mining of gold, make the call of the Green Republic even more justifiable and more pressing for Ghanaians, especially young people, "he adds.
The project takes advantage of cultural activities such as festivals and durbars at the local level to preach the need for humans to plant and protect existing trees. This is done through the participation of community leaders, state institutions, school heads and schoolchildren. During the group's tree planting campaign in Yong Dakpam, Yili and Sang, in Mion District, Northern Region, respectively planted 3,500 and 4,000 trees in collaboration with Humano Energy, a company Petroleum Commission, the Forestry Commission and the Regional Coordination Council. , the group noted that the project was a creative response to the challenge of the climate crisis threatening the existence and development of the human being.
"As leaders of tomorrow, young people in Ghana have the sacred responsibility to play an active role in finding lasting solutions to the challenges of the present that may have a negative impact on the future. As young people who will have to bear the repercussions of a deforested country, including climate change and global warming, we decided to buy the future with the present by acting decisively today. By planting trees, "he said.
The goal of the project is not simply to encourage the planting of millions of trees across Ghana, but also to ensure that communities pay close attention to the problems posed by climate change. To this end, each planted tree is left in the hands of community leaders, community members, school leaders and children, who must understand the impact of deforestation.
"We are just not going to plant the trees and leave, we are making sure that people at the local level are responsible for the project. We even had cases where local schools and leaders donated unused land to use for this project. In Tamale, for example, Tamale's supreme leader, Dakpama Alhbadan Dawuni, rallied his youth to subscribe to the initiative.
This year, we plan to plant 100,000 trees; 50,000 trees in the eastern region and 50,000 northern regions, respectively.
The TGRP has already received international recognition. The project leader was invited to speak at the 2018 World Landscape Forum in Bonn, Germany, where he called on world leaders to consider the climate crisis as the most defining challenge of our time and a war in win by the reconciliation of humanity and nature.
Available data suggesting that Ghana had lost 60% of its forest cover from 1950 to the beginning of the last century, this project, if successful, would become the largest reforestation project in Ghana 's history.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. The SDGs encourage a spirit of partnerships between governments, the private sector, research, academia and civil society. Civil society organizations (CSOs) must work together to ensure that the right choices are made now to improve lives in a sustainable way for future generations.
In line with the universal appeal launched by the United Nations to mobilize the necessary political and financial support for the restoration of the deforested and degraded ecosystems of the planet, the initiators of the TGRP met well with the organizations of the Civil society to engage in the fight against climate change by supporting the planting of trees as a natural climate wallet.
He then proposed that Ghana institute its own National Tree Planting Day, preferably on 1 July.st of each year, where every Ghanaian would go out to plant trees. In addition, the project leader suggested that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development ensure that all districts, regions and constituencies necessarily develop the greenbelt.
"Forestry experts have warned that Ghana's forests could be depleted in the next decade if attention is not given and prudent measures are taken to curb the rate of deforestation in crisis. We can not continue to lose our trees as a people. Nothing happens by doing nothing. We must take deliberate measures to avoid the imminent climate danger. We can not pray for it because God has provided us with trees to play strategic roles. price if we do not restore, "he told the badembled business leaders.
According to the 2018 report of the World Health Organization, 23,000 Ghanaians die each year from diseases related to air pollution. Demand for forest products and services in Ghana is growing rapidly. This phenomenon, fueled by a growing population and an expanding economy, makes the Green Republic project and call for a national day of tree planting worthy of support.
By Attah-Effah Badu
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