Mr. Sumaila Saaka, Executive Director of the Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), an environmentally focused organisation, has noted with concern that children were both victims and perpetrators of land degradation, particularly in the northern parts of Ghana.
He indicated that children were cattle herds who graze cows far into the bush when feed near the home was scarce, which exposed them to different kinds of risk.
The risks include animal bites and harm by cattle raiders, aside from the effects of engaging hazardous work such as cutting down trees and removing stumps to clear farmlands for cultivation.
Sometimes, they also do not attend school.
That, he said, makes it a necessity for their capacities as stewards to be built to understand the dangers and challenges associated with deforestation, environmental degradation, and climate change, to be able to champion the restoration of degraded lands.
Mr. Saaka made the remarks when he addressed stakeholders at an inception meeting in Talensi, as part of the implementation of the Regreening Communities through School Kids Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Eco-Clubs in Talensi District of the Upper East Region, Northern Ghana Project expected to last till December 2026.
The Director emphasised that the implementation of the project would empower children and teachers to contribute actively to local landscape regreening actions and increase wider community awareness on the importance of trees and the need for sustaining FMNR practices for improved livelihood.
He said children have the right to access accurate and reliable environmental information including information about the causes, effects, actual and potential sources of environmental harm, and effects which according to him, the implementation of the project guaranteed that.
The Executive Director expressed gratitude to the Heidehof Foundation of Germany and Awaken Trees Foundation, Austria, for funding the project.
Madam Christina Azure, the Talensi District Director of Education, in her welcome address, said the project aligned with the Ghana Education Serviceâs (GES) shared vision of re-greening communities and fostering sustainable practices among children.
She charged the stakeholders, including head teachers and School Improvement Support Officers (SISO), to offer full support to FONAR for the successful implementation of the project.
The project aimed at expanding the coverage of FONARâs innovative Talensi school kids eco clubs initiative in Northern Ghana by mobilising school kids in 10 rural public basic schools and teachers through eco clubs to sustain FMNR practices in farming villages through a bottom-up knowledge creation, sharing, and action.