Talensi: As part of activities to mark this year's World Desertification and Drought Day, pupils of the Baare Primary School in the Talensi District undertook a tree pruning exercise to demonstrate their commitment to environmental restoration.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, organised by the Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), brought together school teachers, community leaders, development partners, and the media to raise awareness on the growing threat of desertification, drought, and land degradation. The initiative was supported by the Heidehof Foundation of Germany and the Awaken Trees Foundation of Austria.
Mr Sumaila S. Saaka, the Executive Director of FONAR, speaking at the ceremony, called for urgent adoption of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) as a core strategy in restoring land degradation and promoting climate resilience. He noted that over 35 per cent of Ghana's land, particularly in the five Northern Savannah Regions, was prone to desertification due to unsustainable land use, overgrazing, illegal mining, and bushfires.
According to the World Bank, Ghana loses over 315,000 hectares of forest annually, and in 2024 alone, drought-related crop revenue losses were estimated at GHS22.2 billion. Mr Saaka acknowledged ongoing government efforts such as the Tree for Life Reforestation initiative and Ghana's commitment under the AFR100 to restore two million hectares of degraded land.
He, however, noted that annual tree planting campaigns had not achieved their full potential due to poor community engagement and lack of maintenance. 'Tree planting alone is not enough. FMNR is a cost-effective and community-friendly approach that can achieve faster and more sustainable results,' he emphasised.
He also highlighted FONAR's 'Regreening Communities through School Kids FMNR Eco-Clubs' project, which is being implemented in 10 basic schools in the Talensi District with funding from the Heidehof Foundation of Germany and the Awaken Trees Foundation of Austria. Under the project, over 200 pupils, referred to as 'Eco-Warriors', are receiving training in sustainable land management and environmental stewardship.
Mr Saaka urged teachers to incorporate water-saving practices such as rainwater harvesting into classroom activities and called for stronger partnerships to help protect the environment for future generations. 'The future of our land depends on the decisions we make today. By empowering young people, we are building a strong foundation for climate action and food security,' he added.
Mr Johnson Kolan, the Headteacher of Baare Primary School, indicated that almost every school in the district had suffered damage, with parts of their buildings ripped off due to windstorms caused by desertification and commended FONAR for its initiative. Mr Joseph Zida, the Talensi District Human Resource Officer, said the unusual and erratic rainfall pattern in the month of June was alarming and called for greater support for civil society organizations like FONAR to address the effects of climate change.
Mr Robert Abeero Alpha, Talensi District Director of NADMO, noted that FONAR's initiative was the most appropriate strategy for districts like Talensi, which was increasingly experiencing irregular rainfall patterns.
