40 million tree species to be planted on cocoa farms

Forty million tree species are expected to the planted on cocoa farms across the nation under the “Trees on Farm Project”, launched by the Forestry Commission.     

Cocoa farmers would be planting between 14 and 20 trees per every hectare of their farm.     

Nana Poku Bosompem, the Nkawie District Forest Manager, said this was part of steps taken to restore the nation’s forest cover.
     
He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the occasion of the international day of the forest.

“The forest and energy: the implication for Ghana” was the theme chosen for this year’s celebration.

The event comes amid widespread concern about the growing destruction of the forest through illegal logging, farming and mining.      

Nana Bosompem spoke of the urgent need for everybody to find space to contribute to efforts at protecting the forest, which globally is acknowledged as “nature’s power house”.      

This was necessary, considering the fact that about 60 per cent of the country’s population depended on wood for fuel.       

Available statistics from the Ghana Statistical Service indicate that about 73 per cent of the rural population used firewood for cooking, while 16 per cent relied on charcoal.      

In the urban areas, 50 per cent of households, reportedly have been using charcoal and the demand had kept increasing by about 1.2 per cent every year, since 2008.      

Nana Bosompem said from this, it should become obvious to everybody the serious implications that the loss of the forest could have on household energy.      

The figures should be a wake-up call to all Ghanaians to act together to protect the forest and go into afforestation – plant tree species like cassia, which could grow everywhere.        He called for strong enforcement of laws passed to safeguard and promote sustainable management of the forest and its resources.

Source: GNA