By Lawrence Odoom
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that the government will plant an additional 30 million trees starting in June, intensifying Ghana’s efforts to restore degraded forests and advance environmental sustainability nationwide.
Addressing the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters in New York, the Minister said the initiative will launch with the onset of the rainy season and forms part of Ghana’s broader commitment to combating deforestation and mitigating climate change.
“We are not stopping there. From June 2 this year, at the start of the rains and planting period, we will commence this year’s edition to plant an additional 30 million trees,” he stated.
The nationwide exercise will build on ongoing reforestation interventions aimed at reversing the destruction of forest reserves, much of it driven by illegal mining and other human activities.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah also disclosed that tree planting is being integrated into agricultural systems through the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, which promotes climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land-use practices.
“In the last year alone, through our innovative flagship tree for life restoration initiative, we mobilised citizens and residents of Ghana to plant over 30 million trees,” he noted.
The expanded campaign underscores Ghana’s resolve to translate climate commitments into tangible action, leveraging public participation and strategic partnerships to safeguard the country’s forest ecosystems for future generations.