Management of the Offinso forest district of the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission Ghana has disclosed that the district can boast of about 70% to 80% survival rate of seedlings planted last year under the Green Ghana aforestation program.
The District Forest Manager made the disclosure during a follow-up interaction with some journalists and forestry industry stakeholders ahead of the upcoming Green Ghana exercise.
Mr. Edward Nyamaa said his outfit planted over 555,000 seedlings during last year Green Ghana exercise in six of the district’s nine degraded forest reserves of which the above stated percentage survived.
The reserves are Mankran River Forest, Asubima, Gianana, and Asuofu West Forest reserves. The rest are Afram Head Waters and Opro River Forest Reserves.
Mr Nyamaa attributed the survival rate to fair weather condition and effective monitoring and supervision by both management and staff as well as close collaboration of forest industry stakeholders in the district and the region.
He indicated that his office in collaboration with the Ashanti regional forest management is well prepared for this year’s national tree planting exercise.
The manager mentioned that the district has targeted 340,000 seedlings to be planted in the various degraded reserves.
He stressed on the need for the country to take the program serious since all our natural forest cover is fast degrading.
Mr Edward Nyamaa expressed worry over the wanton destruction of the country’s remaining forests and natural environment.
He entreated the public to be much concerned about the current state of our forest while appealing to government, industry players and all stakeholders to act in the interest of the future generation.
