By Joseph Kwame Okyere Darko Bekoe
Ghana has a long history of tree planting, dating back to the days of the Ashanti Empire. However, the current annual tree planting exercise is not sustainable and is not having the desired impact on the environment.
There are a number of problems with the current tree planting exercise. First, the trees that are planted are often not of economic value to the community and are not suited to the local climate. This means that many of the trees die before they have a chance to mature, since it does not entice people to plant.
Second, the trees are not properly cared for after they are planted. This means that they are not watered regularly or protected from bush fire, pests and diseases. As a result, many of the trees do not survive.
Third, the tree planting exercise is not well-organized. There is no clear plan for where the trees should be planted or how they should be cared for. This leads to a lot of wasted resources and effort.
In order to make Ghana’s tree planting exercise more sustainable, there are a number of changes that need to be made. First, the trees that are planted should be of economic value to the community and suited to the local climate. This will increase the chances of the trees surviving.
Second, the trees need to be properly cared for after they are planted. This means that they need to be watered regularly and protected from bush fire, pests and diseases. The government should provide funding for tree care programs.
Third, the tree planting exercise needs to be better organized. There needs to be a clear plan for where the trees should be planted and how they should be cared for. This will help to ensure that the trees are planted in the right places and that they receive the care they need.
In addition to these changes, there are a number of other things that can be done to make Ghana’s tree planting exercise more sustainable. For example, the government could create a tree nursery to produce native trees that are ready to be planted. The government could also provide tax breaks to businesses and individuals who plant trees.
However, planting trees is not enough. We also need to nurture, maintain, and sustain them.
Nurturing trees means providing them with the water, weeding around it and nutrients they need to grow. This can be done by regularly watering the trees , weeding around and applying fertilizer.
Maintaining trees means protecting them from pests bush fire and diseases. This can be done by inspecting the trees regularly and taking steps to weeding around, control pests and diseases.
Sustaining trees means ensuring that they have a long and healthy life. This can be done by planting trees in the right places and providing them with the care they need and putting activity in the planted tree area to put a check on the activity of people felling the trees indiscriminately .
All of these activities require the participation of individuals.
Individuals can plant trees, nurture them, and maintain them. They can also educate others about the importance of trees and how to care for them.
By working together, we can make Ghana’s tree planting exercise a success and help to protect our environment for future generations.
Here are some specific recommendations for how to make Ghana’s tree planting exercise more sustainable:
- The government should work with civil society organizations to develop a comprehensive plan for tree planting, nurturing, maintenance, and sustainability.
- The government should provide funding for tree care programs and for the creation of tree nurseries.
- The government should educate the public about the importance of trees and how to care for them.
- Businesses and individuals should be encouraged to plant trees and to care for them.
By taking these steps, Ghana can make its annual tree planting exercise a success and help to protect its environment for future generations.
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has a good module for tree planting that can be adopted by the government.
The VRA has been planting trees along the volta lake for many years. The VRA’s program is well-organized and sustainable. The VRA plants trees of economic value that are suited to the local climate that will entice the community to be involve . The VRA also provides regular care for the trees. As a result, the VRA’s tree planting program has been very successful.
The government can learn from the VRA’s success and adopt a similar program for tree planting. By doing so, the government can make Ghana’s annual tree planting exercise a success and help to protect the environment.
