LocationsDr. Angela Lusigi, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana planting her tree at Achimota degraded landscape.
The 2020 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ‘The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene’, reveals that, in the name of progress, humanity has placed enormous pressure on the planet. The report lays out a stark choice for world leaders - take bold steps to reduce the immense pressure that is being exerted on the environment and the natural world, or humanity’s progress will stall.
Ghana’s rainforest is being lost at an alarming rate. According to the Global Forest Watch, there was a 60% increase in Ghana’s primary rainforest loss in 2018, the highest in the world. To mobilize citizens’ actions to restore the country’s degraded landscapes, the Government of Ghana, led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission (FC), initiated the Green Ghana Project. Through the project, the Government declared 11 June 2021 as a National Tree Planting Day and provided seedlings to enable Ghanaians across the country to plant 5million trees.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana supported the national exercise with $15,000 for the purchase of fruit seedlings. The support is part of the “SDG Partnership on Sustainable Forestry” project which is being implemented with the Forestry Commission with support from the Republic of Korea through the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre in South Korea.
With support from the Department of Parks and Gardens, staff of UNDP in Ghana participated in the national tree planting exercise. The staff planted 100 trees of mixed species along the Ring Road East to the Danquah Roundabout and on the UNDP office premise.
The Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, Dr. Angela Lusigi commended the Government of Ghana for initiating the tree planting exercise, which gave UNDP staff the opportunity to contribute to the national efforts to protect and restore the ecosystem.
“Achieving a sustainable life on land and climate action by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 and 13 is the best way to secure our planet for future generations. I am happy that the government of Ghana introduced the Green Ghana Project which gave us all the opportunity to contribute towards sustaining our environment”, she noted.
The Green Ghana project aims at restoring Ghana’s vegetative cover and protect the country’s ecosystem.
Silke Hollander, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Ghana planting her tree.
Frederick Mugisha, Economics Advisor, UNDP Ghana watering his tree.
Stephen Kansuk, Climate Change Specialist, UNDP Ghana, planting his tree.
Jennifer Asuako, Gender Analyst, UNDP Ghana planting her tree.
Some staff at the tree planting exercise. From right is Charles Frimpong, Procurement Associate, Joseph Kwara (UNDSS Radio Operator), Sylvia Senu, Economics Analyst, Edem Adoboe, Procure Assistant, and Ayirebi Frimpong, Project Coordinator/UNDP Ghana.
Praise Nutakor, Communications Analyst in action for nature.
UNDP Ghana Communications Team. From the right is Priscilla Mawuena Adjeidu, Sayibu Ibrahim Suhuyini and Ernestina Ocansey.
