NADMO rolls out massive reforestation project in Eastern Region

Correspondence from Eastern Region

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Eastern Region is set to launch a comprehensive tree planting exercise aimed at reclaiming vast tracts of land devastated by illegal mining (galamsey) and sand winning activities, while also bolstering resilience against natural disasters.

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‎The ambitious initiative will see trees planted in flood-prone areas to serve as windbreaks during the rainy season and, critically, at active and abandoned illegal mining and sand winning sites, particularly in Kyebi and its environs, to restore degraded landscapes.

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‎Eastern Regional NADMO Director, Cudjoe Adukpo, highlighted the severity of the challenge, noting that illegal mining activities have caused immense devastation to lands and water bodies, leaving behind dangerous, uncovered pits that threaten human lives.

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‎"Our initiative aims to reclaim these degraded lands, address issues like uncovered pits left by illegal mining, and mitigate the negative impact of strong winds and flooding during the rainy season," Cudjoe Adukpo stated.

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‎NADMO is collaborating closely with key stakeholders, including Okyeman Abodiesahene, Barimah Okoh Minta, the Forestry Department, and various District Assemblies, to ensure the success and sustainability of the reforestation efforts.

The exercise will also involve collaboration with task forces operating in areas heavily affected by mining.

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‎Cudjoe Adukpo emphasised a strategic shift in NADMO's focus towards disaster prevention, with tree planting being a cornerstone of this new approach. "We wish that more of the indigenous spaces at the place before the impact would be planted so that we'll be able to maintain the biodiversity of the place," he said.

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‎Crucially, the Director stressed the importance of community involvement. "We will also expect that most of the people who would be involved in the reforestation projects will be people from the local communities, so that we'll be providing some benefits to the communities around that area," he added. This engagement is expected to foster ownership and long-term commitment to the project from residents living in mining communities.

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‎"I hope that we will be able to reclaim all the lost vegetation and return the field to green as it was. I must urge you all to look at planting the indigenous trees that used to be there first, so that we can quickly facilitate the return of biodiversity," Cudjoe Adukpo urged, underscoring the importance of selecting indigenous species for ecological restoration.

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‎The initiative represents a significant step towards environmental rehabilitation and disaster mitigation in the Eastern Region, promising to restore lost vegetation, protect communities, and ensure a greener, safer future.