Over 20,000 hectares of land used for reforestation in 2010

A total of 20,212 hectares of land throughout the country has been replanted with various species of trees under the National Forest Plantation Programme in 2010.

Nana Poku Bosompim, the Assistant District Manager of the Forest Services Division, said this at Attakrom during the visit of some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry to the Sui River Forest Reserve.

He said the programme offered direct employments to 28,308 workers and a variety of trees were planted including Teak, Mahogany, Afram, Ceiba, mango and cashew.

Nana Bosompim said in the Western Region, 1,147 trees were planted in 2010 and the program was being implemented in the Sefwi-Wiawso District, Ahwinaso-Bibiani-Bekwai District, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

He said the target of 32,000 hectares could not be achieved in 2010 because of the erratic rainfall pattern and land litigation problems.

He said the target for 2011 is 10,000 hectares and this is to ensure the expansion of existing plantations and the maintenance of trees planted.

Nana Bosompim said the programme was initiated in 2002 and re-launched in 2010 with expanded coverage outside forest reserves.

He said about 67,000 hectares of land have been planted since 2002.

Source: GNA