The Abura Asebu Kwamankese District Assembly has joined the nationwide Tree for Life Initiative with a tree-planting exercise at Abura Bando in the Central Region.

The programme forms part of the national campaign aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, restoring forest cover and encouraging citizens to plant and nurture trees.

Addressing participants, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Daniel Mensah Wardy, highlighted the importance of tree planting in protecting lives and property from environmental challenges such as flooding, soil erosion and extreme weather events.

According to him, trees play a critical role in preserving the ecosystem, improving air quality and reducing environmental degradation.

He called on traditional authorities, opinion leaders, schools and residents to actively support the initiative by planting and caring for trees within their communities.

Mr Wardy also encouraged individuals to plant trees and name them after themselves to promote a sense of ownership and responsibility for their upkeep.

He stressed that regular watering and protection of planted seedlings would be key to the success of the programme and efforts to increase forest cover in the district.

The DCE further expressed concern about the impact of illegal mining and indiscriminate chainsaw operations on the country's forests and biodiversity.

He said such activities continue to degrade the environment and urged residents to support measures aimed at protecting Ghana's natural resources.

Speaking to the media, the Forest Range Officer for the area, Mrs Mary Obeng, commended the government for introducing the Tree for Life Initiative, describing it as a timely effort to restore degraded lands and replenish lost forest resources.

She encouraged Ghanaians to participate actively in tree-planting exercises to help address climate change and environmental degradation.

Mrs Obeng also noted that the initiative has created employment opportunities, particularly for people involved in seedling production, nursery management and tree maintenance.

She expressed confidence that sustained public participation would contribute significantly to environmental conservation and sustainable development.

The exercise ended with the planting of tree seedlings by assembly members, traditional leaders, forestry officials, students and community members.