Gbefi, (V/R) July 29, GNA - Mr Seth Akwensivie, Kpando District Chief Executive, on Tuesday launched a tree planting exercise at Gbefi in the Kpando District.

Launching the exercise, he told pupils who were drawn from public schools to take care of the 200 seedlings planted, which included teak, cassia and graft mangoes.

Mr Akwensivie explained the effect of bushfires on the economy of the country and said the district assembly would launch a tree planting competition among basic schools in the district next year. He appealed to the people, who are predominantly farmers to establish woodlots to enable them to use the products as fuel wood.

Mr. Maurice Ansah, Assemblyman for the area, called on the people to help protect the forest.

He said the rampant bushfires in the area was doing more harm than good and asked those involved in setting unnecessary bush fires to refrain for the act.

Mr Ansah warned that anyone caught setting bushfires would be made to face the law and appealed to the unit committees to take up the challenge and help minimise bush burning in the area.