Environmental advocates are calling for greater public participation in tree planting as part of efforts to address climate change and restore Ghana’s declining vegetation cover.
The Eco Impact Network, a non-governmental organisation focused on environmental sustainability, says involving households directly in tree planting could strengthen national climate action while promoting environmental responsibility at the community level.
Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Gifty Ofori-Yeboah, told the Ghana News Agency that a nationwide initiative encouraging each household to plant at least one tree could serve as a simple but effective strategy to tackle environmental degradation.
She explained that increasing tree cover in residential areas would help mitigate climate change while raising awareness about the importance of environmental protection.
According to her, Ghana has experienced a steady loss of forest cover over the years, which has contributed to worsening environmental challenges.
“Encouraging families to plant and care for trees in their homes can help restore vegetation while building a culture of environmental responsibility among citizens,” she said.
Ms Ofori-Yeboah added that involving households in such initiatives would also expose children to environmental conservation practices at an early stage, helping to nurture a generation that is more conscious of climate-related issues.
She noted that community-level engagement remained crucial to ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
Also speaking on the initiative, Mathias Gafatsi, Officer in Charge of Tree Planting at the Eco Impact Network, highlighted the ecological benefits of trees in combating climate change.
He explained that trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming.
Beyond climate benefits, he said trees also improve air quality, prevent soil erosion and provide shade in urban communities.
Mr Gafatsi noted that the organisation planned to expand its tree-planting activities beyond residential compounds to include open spaces and roadsides, where trees could help absorb heat from tarred surfaces.
He added that integrating such initiatives into national climate strategies would strengthen environmental education while supporting broader sustainability goals.
