Ghana Targets 30 Million Tree Seedlings under Tree for Life Restoration Initiative

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Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, is urging the public to join the Tree for Life Restoration Initiative. The initiative aims to make Ghana green again by restoring degraded forest reserves and mined-out areas. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series Press Conference held at the Presidency in Accra, Mr. Buah said that despite the immense contribution of the Forestry Sub-Sector to the national economy, the sector continued to face deforestation and forest degradation with dire consequences on our existence.

Mr. Buah noted that to address these issues, a number of strategic actions have been undertaken by his Ministry. The Tree for Life Restoration Initiative, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, would restore degraded forest reserves and mined-out areas, transforming them into ecologically functional landscapes. Mr. Buah cited the initiative as a significant intervention in the government's aggressive environmental restoration agenda.

In 2025 alone, about 31 million seedlings were planted, with success rates ranging between 50-78 per cent recorded in the northern savannah zone and 65-85 per cent recorded in the High Forest Zone. This resulted in the restoration of approximately 23,600 hectares of degraded landscapes. The Minister said building on this success, the Ministry is maintaining the planting target of 30 million seedlings this year, which commenced on 5th June until the end of the rainy season.

To support implementation, the Forestry Commission has engaged and deployed 2,719 Youth Forest Champions. These champions are actively involved in nursery operations, seedling production, site preparation, tree planting, plantation maintenance, wildfire prevention, and protection of forest reserves. Mr. Buah expressed his Ministry's profound gratitude to corporate Ghana and other stakeholders who supported them in achieving their ambitious target last year and are continuing their efforts this year too.

Ghana's environmental restoration agenda faces numerous challenges, including deforestation and forest degradation. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is working to address these issues through the Tree for Life Restoration Initiative. By restoring degraded forest reserves and mined-out areas, the initiative aims to make Ghana a greener and more sustainable country.