The Department of Forest Science of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), with support from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGGF) has planted different species of trees to re-green some Senior High Schools and to mitigate climate change impacts in the schools.
Professor Daniel Akoto, the Head of the Department, led some students together with the Ahafo Young Women’s Movement (AYoM), a women inclined non-government organisation to undertake the tree planting exercise, with funding from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF).
The beneficiary schools include Sunyani SHS and the Sunyani Seventh Day SHS to mark the 2025 celebration of the Tree for Life initiative (T4L) of the government.
They later visited and assessed the condition of trees they planted at the Fiapre Kyem Amponsah SHS in the Sunyani West Municipality in 2024.
“That visit was aimed to assess the survival and growth of the planted trees, and to educate the students on the significance of tree planting and environmental stewardship in combating climate change,” Professor Akoto told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview.
He said prior to the commencement of the weeklong tree planting exercise, the department and its partners held a sensitization engagement with the students in the beneficiary schools and to sensitize them about the relevance of trees and the need for them to nurture the trees.
“The Vice Chancellor of UENR, Prof Elvis Asare Bediako tasked our department to represent it in responding to this important national call to action on sustainable communities and the environment,” Prof Akoto stated.
Prof Akoto said: “the department represented the university during the Bono Regional launch of the T4L initiative which took place at Saint James SHS, and some trees were planted around the campus, together with other stakeholders present at the commemoration.”
He explained that the tree planting exercises were in line with the urban tree planting to ensure sustainable cities and climate change mitigation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.
The global goals 11 and 13, respectively, focus on Sustainable Cities and Communities and Climate Action.
SDG 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, while SDG 13 addresses the urgent need to combat climate change and its impacts
“To conclude the week’s activities, several trees were also planted on the UENR campus to reaffirm the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability,” Prof Akoto added.
Mrs Opuni Frimpong, the leader of the tree planting team took the students through the importance of trees in cities and communities and their role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem to support life in all its forms on earth.
She highlighted the concept of urban forest, the importance and benefits of urban forest, management of urban trees and the role of the youth and public in protecting and managing urban forestry.
Mrs Frimpong enlightened the students on how trees serve humanity in numerous ways, including providing oxygen, sequestering carbon and other harmful gases and particulates from the atmosphere and the environment.
She said trees further provided materials for timber and non-timber forest products, medicines, mushrooms and many others, she stated and highlighted the concept of global warming and the role of trees in mitigating impacts of climate change on the environment.