The Forestry Commission has constructed a fire-right corridor around its seedling plantation sites in the Red Volta East Forest Reserve in the Bawku West District. The effort aims to protect 30,000 teak seedlings planted under the Tree for Life Initiative and to educate farmers in surrounding communities on effective bushfire prevention and control.
The seedlings were distributed and planted across the fringe communities of Boya-Kpalsako and Timonde as part of ongoing efforts to restore forest cover, improve environmental sustainability, and support local livelihoods.
Under the initiative, community members are expected to receive 40% of the benefits from the trees upon maturity, making their involvement in protecting the plantation essential.
During a community engagement with Forestry Commission staff, farmers, and residents, Upper East Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, George Agbenowoshi, urged all stakeholders to remain committed to ensuring the survival of the seedlings. He said the long-term economic and social gains of the teak plantation outweigh short-term activities such as hunting or indiscriminate land clearing.
Mr. Agbenowoshi noted that the fire belt is intended not only to prevent annual bushfires from destroying the plantation but also to reinforce the shared responsibility of communities in safeguarding the forest reserve. He also pledged to reward any farmer who shows outstanding dedication to protecting the seedlings during the dry season.
“The benefits you will gain from these trees in the future are far greater than any short-term reward from activities that destroy the forest,” he said, urging residents to work closely with Forestry Commission staff in monitoring and maintaining the plantations.
The Bawku Forest District Manager, Seidu Adams, also appealed to farmers and field workers to intensify vigilance against bushfires. He said the seedlings currently have an 80% survival rate, a figure he hopes will be maintained or improved if the dry season ends without fire outbreaks.
With stronger community collaboration and adherence to fire prevention measures, he said, the initiative is likely to achieve its intended impact.
Farmers and community members at the sensitization meeting pledged their commitment to protecting the plantation. They vowed to support surveillance efforts, educate their peers on proper fire management, and discourage activities that threaten the reserve.
The Tree for Life Initiative remains a key intervention in promoting reforestation, strengthening climate resilience, and improving livelihoods in the Bawku West District.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Moses Apiah | Bawku West
