Nabdam: World Vision Ghana, a Christian humanitarian organisation, has planted 100 tree seedlings at the Ziemboug Community, a suburb of Pelungu in the Nabdam District, as part of activities to commemorate this year's Tree for Life Day and to promote environmental sustainability.
According to Ghana News Agency, the exercise was undertaken through World Vision Ghana's Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Heritage Project, funded by the European Union under the Sustainable Forest and Cocoa Programme through the European Forest Institute. This initiative aims to restore 1,500 hectares of degraded land and empower more than 10,000 people, particularly women, youth, and marginalised groups, to champion environmental restoration and climate adaptation.
The event saw participation from officials of the Nabdam District Assembly, the Forestry Services Division, the Ghana Education Service (GES), traditional authorities, community members, teachers, and pupils. Mr Rexford Bugre, the Northern Regional Operations Manager of World Vision Ghana, in a speech read by Mr Joseph Edwin Yelkabong, Bawku Cluster Area Programme Manager, highlighted the organisation's commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
He explained that the trees would provide shade, improve air quality, reduce soil erosion, enhance the beauty of the school environment and community, and contribute to the restoration of the local ecosystem. Mr Bugre emphasized that the exercise is part of efforts to restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, and improve livelihoods through community-led environmental restoration approaches.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change; Goal 15, which promotes the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems; and Goal 11, which seeks to make communities safer and more resilient. Additionally, the initiative contributes to Goal 6, emphasizing access to clean water and sanitation, as healthy forests and vegetation are vital in protecting water resources.
To ensure the sustainability of the project, arrangements have been made with school authorities and community leaders for regular watering, monitoring, and protection of the trees. Mr Jonas Bugre, FMNR Heritage Project Manager at World Vision Ghana, stressed the importance of nurturing the trees to maturity.
Mr Francis Tobig, Nabdam District Chief Executive, pledged the District Assembly's support for tree-planting and nurturing efforts. Plans include distributing seedlings to schools, health facilities, and communities, with agriculture and forestry officials monitoring tree survival rates quarterly. An award scheme is also planned to recognize communities and institutions that successfully nurture and protect planted trees.
Reverend Father Luke Atanga, NGO Desk Officer at the Nabdam District Directorate of the GES, commended World Vision Ghana and its partners for the initiative, expressing support for implementing environmental restoration programs in schools. Mr Michael Manor, Nabdam Forest Range Manager of the Forestry Commission, called for scaling up FMNR approaches, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and higher survival rate compared to conventional tree planting.
FMNR is a straightforward, low-cost land and forest restoration technique that involves managing existing trees and shrubs to enable natural regeneration. The Tree for Life Day celebration was observed under the theme, 'Forests and Economics.'