Efforts to restore degraded lands and strengthen climate resilience have taken a practical step forward in the Nabdam District, where World Vision Ghana has planted 100 tree seedlings at Ziemboug, a community in the Pelungu area, as part of this year’s Tree for Life Day celebrations.
The initiative, implemented through the organisation’s Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Heritage Project, is funded by the European Union under the Sustainable Forest and Cocoa Programme, with technical support from the European Forest Institute.
The broader project aims to restore 1,500 hectares of degraded land while empowering more than 10,000 people—particularly women, young people, and vulnerable groups—to actively participate in environmental restoration and climate adaptation efforts.
The tree-planting exercise brought together representatives from the Nabdam District Assembly, the Forestry Services Division, the Ghana Education Service, traditional authorities, teachers, pupils, and members of the local community, highlighting a shared commitment to environmental protection.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Operations Manager of World Vision Ghana, Mr Rexford Bugre, Mr Joseph Edwin Yelkabong, Bawku Cluster Area Programme Manager, described the exercise as a concrete demonstration of the organisation’s commitment to climate resilience and sustainable land management.
He explained that the trees planted would serve multiple purposes, including providing shade, improving air quality, reducing soil erosion, enhancing the beauty of the community and school environment, and contributing to the restoration of local ecosystems.
According to him, the intervention is part of a wider effort to restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, and improve livelihoods through community-driven environmental initiatives aligned with global sustainability goals.
He referenced the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that the project contributes to climate action, ecosystem restoration, sustainable communities, and improved water resource protection.
Mr Bugre further assured stakeholders that the initiative would not end with planting activities, emphasizing that systems had been put in place with school authorities and community leaders to ensure consistent watering, monitoring, and protection of the seedlings.
Project Manager for the FMNR Heritage Project, Mr Jonas Bugre, urged residents and schoolchildren to focus not only on planting trees but also on nurturing them to maturity, stressing that long-term care is essential for survival and impact.
He reiterated that the project’s philosophy goes beyond tree planting to active tree growing, with sustained community involvement forming the backbone of its success.
The Nabdam District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Tobig, reaffirmed the District Assembly’s commitment to environmental restoration, announcing plans to distribute seedlings to schools, health facilities, and communities across the district.
He also revealed that agriculture and forestry officials would be tasked with conducting quarterly assessments of tree survival rates, while an incentive scheme would be introduced to reward communities and institutions that successfully protect and nurture planted trees.
Reverend Father Luke Atanga, NGO Desk Officer at the Nabdam District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, praised World Vision Ghana and its partners for the initiative and encouraged schools to integrate environmental stewardship into their daily activities.
He urged teachers and pupils to take ownership of the trees as a legacy for future generations.
Mr Michael Manor, Nabdam Forest Range Manager of the Forestry Commission, called for wider adoption of the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration approach, describing it as a cost-effective and efficient method for restoring degraded lands compared to conventional tree planting.
The Tree for Life Day celebration was held under the theme “Forests and Economics,” underscoring the link between environmental restoration and sustainable development.
