Many institutions and individuals in the Bono Region have inundated offices of the Forestry Commission to demand free tree seedlings to plant during the Green Ghana Day set up by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Day is to be marked on Friday, June 11 with the planting of five million trees.
The institutions demanding seedlings to plant include schools, district assemblies, private business organizations, government agencies, departments and individuals.
This was disclosed on Tuesday, June 8 by the District Forestry Manager of Sunyani Forest District, Francis Brobbery, at Berekum where the Commission together with the Berekum Traditional Council, FORM Ghana, a private organisation specialized in tree planting, and Ghana Water Company Limited jointly demonstrated how to plant trees and take care of it till it grows to maturity as a demonstration ahead of the big day.
According to Mr. Brobbey, the district originally was assigned to distribute 100,000 species of different seedlings to people who wish to plant trees but due to the mad rush, his outfit has so far exceeded 140,000 seedlings distribution.
He noted that to plant trees to make sure it reaches maturity, one must prepare a site through clearing, cut a peg and peg the land, obtain healthy and suitable seedlings and plant the seedlings well at appropriate weather for it to do well.
“You must water and mulch the seedlings, fence the young trees if it is exposed to grazing, undertake periodic weeding around it, protect it from fire, animals and diseases and to conduct periodic monitoring and consult professional foresters on how best to maintain it until it matures,” he explained.
Bono Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission Noble Isaac Eshun, on his part, urged all citizens in the Region to participate fully in the laudable project to make it a success, saying trees have so many economic benefits for man especially in this era of global warming and climate change.
The Paramount Chief of Berekum Traditional Area, Nana Amankona Diawuo, thanked the government for instituting Green Ghana Day to plant trees and promised that the Council and Nananom including his subjects would vigorously participate in it on Friday with massive tree planting especially around water bodies to protect the rivers and lakes for continuous supply of water to the people and future generations.
By Larry Paa Kwesi Moses|3news.com|Ghana