The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implemented EU REACH project – Resilience Against Climate Change, in close collaboration with private sector actors, public partners and community leadership undertook a community outreach tree-planting exercise in each of its 18 baseline communities in the Upper West and Savannah Regions of Ghana.
A team from REACH led by a Technical Advisor, Prosper Wie, distributed and planted the seedlings in each community. This was warmly received by the chiefs on behalf of their respective communities. Each community received between 1,000 and 1,500 seedlings depending on size of the community, with each house receiving five seedlings comprising three fruit trees (Cashew, Mango and Citrus), and two shade trees.
In his remarks at a brief handing-over at Sampina in the Nadowli-Kaleo district of the Upper West Region, Finance and Administration Manager Anselm Kofi Taabazuing stated: “The REACH project takes keen interest in safeguarding the environment and making it a safe place for its inhabitants. The habit of cutting down trees must be strongly discouraged, and this can only be possible if all of us take an interest in protecting our immediate environment.
“These seedlings you see today, if you take proper care of them, in the next 2 to 3 years the entire community will reap the benefits. The project will be happy to see all the seedlings grow well into trees. All we require of you is to take proper care of them. These trees will not only benefit the current generation but generations to come,” he said.
The Paramount Chief of Sampina, Naa Walter Kanubana Kporo II, expressed the community’s appreciation to the REACH project for the gesture, and pledged its full commitment and support for the project. He further indicated that his community will take full responsibility for the seedlings. He said: “With my background as a retired forester, I am passionate about tree-planting. I know the benefits of trees to mankind. I will ensure that every house takes care of the trees”.
A total of 22,000 seedlings were distributed and planted in all 18 communities within the six (6) pilot districts of the project. These districts comprise five from the Upper West Region – Nadowli/Kaleo, Lawra, Jirapa, Sisaala East, Wa West; and one district from the Savannah Region: Sawla-Tuna-Kalba.
The tree-planting exercise sought to increase the communities’ climate awareness and resilience; enhance nutritional requirements at the household level; and beautify their respective environments.
