The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has announced a shift in Ghana’s environmental strategy from large-scale tree planting to sustained maintenance and survival of planted trees, as the country marks the 2026 World Environment Day.
Speaking at the national commemoration held at the West African Senior High School, the Minister said this year’s global theme, “inspired by nature for climate for our future,” highlights the critical role of nature in addressing climate change and supporting sustainable development.
He stressed that forests are not only environmental resources but also economic assets that contribute to livelihoods, water security, and national development. Hon. Armah Kofi Buah warned that climate change is no longer a future risk but a current and urgent threat affecting Ghana and the world.
He noted that the country continues to experience rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, flooding, coastal erosion, prolonged droughts, and declining forest cover.
“These impacts threaten food security, water resources, public health, livelihoods, and economic growth. In fact, it threatens our very survival,” he stated. He added that scientific evidence has made climate change an undeniable reality, requiring immediate, collective, and sustained action rather than debate.
31 Million Trees Planted in 2025
The Minister announced that Ghana achieved a significant milestone in 2025 under the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, planting over 31 million trees nationwide.
This figure exceeded the original target of 30 million trees and was achieved through collaboration among government institutions, traditional authorities, schools, religious bodies, civil society organisations, development partners, communities, and the private sector.
He described the achievement as proof of what can be accomplished through collective national effort. The Tree for Life Initiative, launched in 2025, is designed to restore degraded landscapes, increase forest cover, combat desertification, protect watersheds, and support Ghana’s climate commitments.
Shift to Maintenance and Survival in 2026
Despite the success recorded in 2025, the Minister emphasized that the real challenge lies in ensuring that planted trees survive and grow into mature forests.
He said the 2026 phase of the Tree for Life Initiative will therefore prioritise post-planting care, monitoring, and maintenance over planting numbers alone. “The true measure of success is not the number of seedlings planted, but the number of trees that survive and mature,” he said.
Hon. Armah Kofi Buah urged institutions, schools, communities, and individuals to take full ownership of trees planted under the programme by watering them, protecting them from fire and destruction, and ensuring regular monitoring.
He stressed that environmental responsibility must be treated as a long-term national duty that benefits both present and future generations.
The Minister highlighted the importance of youth participation in environmental protection, noting that the choice of a senior high school for the celebration was symbolic. He said students represent the future of environmental stewardship and must take active roles in shaping a sustainable Ghana.
He encouraged young people to plant trees, avoid indiscriminate waste disposal, conserve water and energy, and promote environmental awareness within their communities. “You are not merely beneficiaries of environmental protection efforts. You are active partners in shaping the sustainable future,” he said.
Call for Environmental Education
Hon. Armah Kofi Buah also urged teachers and educational institutions to strengthen environmental education across all levels of learning.
He said integrating environmental awareness into academic and extracurricular activities is essential for developing responsible citizens who understand the importance of sustainability.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment under President John Dramani Mahama to strengthening environmental policies and ensuring long-term ecological restoration.
The 2026 World Environment Day event ended with a renewed national call for sustained environmental responsibility, as Ghana transitions from mass tree planting to ensuring the survival and growth of its forest.
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