Bunso (E/R), June 13, GNA – Bunso Eco Park has partnered with A-Rocha Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), that works in the area of biodiversity conservation to plant more trees under the Green Ghana project.
The deal aims to boost the eco vegetation at Bunso in the Abuakwa South Municipality.
The tourism site contains over 110 species of birds, 30 species of butterflies and a herb garden with over 40 different tree species.
About 200 new trees have been planted under the tree planting project.
The ‘Green Ghana’ project formed part of the government’s initiative to replace lost vegetation, forest reserves and encourage the attitude of tree planting with five million trees expected to be planted nationwide.
Mr Asare Frimpong, Facility Manager at Bunso Eco Park, said if all tree loggers could comply with the forestry directives, which encouraged trees to be replaced once it was cut, there would have been abundant trees across the country.
He expressed worry that the directive was not being adhered to.
Mr Frimpong noted that the biggest challenge had to do with dealing with illegal timber loggers and unlawful entry into the eco vegetation to fetch ornamental and medicinal plants.
He appealed to the public to help preserve the vegetation and forest reserve because the other benefits derived from the forest were greater than just the logging of timber.
Mr Theopilus Boakye Yiadom, Project Manager, A-Rocha Ghana, said the partnership with Bunso Eco Park was part of their commitment to ensuring that the natural vegetation was maintained.
It was also to ensure the objective of the government’s initiative of planting five million trees across the country was realised.
He expressed the hope that the exercise would enable more Ghanaians to develop the habit of planting trees, henceforth, indicating that planting at least a tree every year would be commendable.
Mr Kwasi Asiedu, Assembly Member, Ettukrom Electoral Area, commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the initiative, adding that, due to the depletion of the forest reserves and vegetation, such an initiative would help to address the issues.
He noted that the initiative would have a great contribution to the success of protecting the environment and forest areas.
He urged communities in and around the Eco-park to support their activities by preventing people from indiscriminately logging trees.
He added that the economic value of the Eco Park to the surrounding communities was enormous therefore it was eminent to give the needed protection and safeguard the place for future generations.
GNA