NGO to plant 400 tree seedlings in Winneba

Winneba (C/R), June 19, GNA - The Effutu Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Nii Ephraim, on Friday called for a tree planting exercise in the country to prevent desertification.

He said trees when planted either in communities or the forest, must be nurtured to grow.

Nii Ephraim said this in an address read for him by the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Kofi Kussachin at the World Day to combat drought and desertification celebration in Winneba.

It was organized by the Youth As a Mission Development Association (YAAMDA) a non-Profit making Organization operating in the Effutu and Awutu- Senya area with support from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

It was under the theme 93Lets come together to save the environment".

The MCE appealed to the people in the area to desist from activities that degrade the environment, adding that building on waterways and dumping of refuse in streams must also be prevented.

The Winneba Area Manager of the Forest Services Division, Mr Ernest Nkansah-Kwarteng said the forestry Commission and his outfit are doing their best to address some threats on the forest by conserving the few natural forest stands left.

He said this includes planting more trees in collaboration with government and volunteers and also educating people on the need to protect the environment.

According to him the state of the environment in 40-50 years time will be determined by the current response.

He therefore urged people to plant more trees in their forest and at their communities to serve as windbreaks in the environment.

Mr Andres Agyekumhene, Winneba Division Manager of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, said the division has embarked on community and school education, ecological restoration, biodiversity monitoring, law enforcement and closed seasons as means of protecting the few remaining resources in the wetlands.

Mr Daniel Kofi Baka, executive Director of YAAMDA said his outfit in collaboration with the Forestry Department, have decided to plant about 400 tree seedlings at the Central Regional Police Training School and around the Muni Lagoon in Winneba as part of activities marking the celebration.