The Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG) says its “10 Trees for Every 10 Basic Schools” initiative is gradually shifting from mere tree planting to a culture of nurturing and sustainability, as monitoring exercises reveal high survival rates of trees planted in basic schools across the Bolgatanga Municipality.
Launched in 2024, the initiative has seen close to 85 percent of trees planted in participating schools surviving into 2025, a development they describe as encouraging for local climate action efforts.
The programme focuses on planting and nurturing trees within basic schools while instilling environmental responsibility in pupils and teachers.
At Anateem Junior High School in Sumbrungu, where 10 trees were planted in 2024, a recent monitoring visit by YHFG officials confirmed that seven of the trees have survived and are growing steadily.
Similar assessments at Atolisum Junior High School and other participating schools recorded survival rates of eight, nine, and in some cases, nearly all planted trees.
Speaking during a field visit as part of activities marking World Environment Day, the Project Officer in charge of the POKA project under YHFG, Pecy Asimvim, stressed that the initiative contributes meaningfully to the fight against climate change.
“Trees are life. Our contribution to the climate change campaign is through tree planting and nurturing,” he said, adding that the programme includes a mix of economic trees, shade (umbrella) trees, and other beneficial species.
He noted that the project is not only about planting but also ensuring survival through continuous care and monitoring, describing it as a long-term environmental investment.
Mr. Asimvim further announced that in 2026, the initiative will be scaled up to cover 15 basic schools within the municipality, expanding its impact on environmental education and climate resilience.
However, he highlighted challenges affecting the survival of some planted trees, including misunderstandings among community members and encroachment issues at school boundary areas.
In some instances, animals grazing near school compounds have destroyed young seedlings before they could fully mature.
He therefore called on institutions such as the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and other stakeholders to intensify public education on the importance of tree planting and protection.
As part of World Environment Day commemorations, YHFG, the NCCE, and the Hay Movement engaged pupils of Anateem, Atolisum, and other junior high schools on environmental stewardship in line with Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action.
Topics included tree planting, waste management, deforestation prevention, and water body protection.
NCCE officer Eric Tambolah educated pupils on the importance of trees and commended ongoing awareness efforts.
The initiative, they said, will continue to position schools as key drivers of environmental protection and climate awareness in the Upper East Region.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
