Ghana’s strategies on forest conservation and reclamation emphasize youth involvement, an official stated on Wednesday.
Huge Brown, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Forestry Commission, stated during an inter-university debate on the economic benefits of forests that involving youth in forest management encourages them to participate in national efforts on ecological preservation and climate change mitigation.
Brown said the debate, which is part of Ghana’s national celebration of the International Day of the Forest, instituted by the United Nations in 2012, is targeted at conscientizing the youth on the importance of forests in their daily lives and the urgent need to protect them, inculcating and raising their environmental stewardship and consciousness.
“The importance of forests extends far beyond generating income, employment, trade in renewable raw materials, and food products. Forests provide numerous ecological services such as conservation, soil protection, climate mitigation, and maintaining agricultural productivity, while protecting headwaters and watersheds,” Brown highlighted.
The CEO, therefore, urged the youth to take up the challenge, not only by winning the debate but also by translating their understanding into real needed efforts at preserving and restoring forests.