Bolgatanga, Aug. 12, GNA - The National Forest Plantation Development Fund (NFPDF) on Friday presented tree growing working tools, worth 120 million cedis to five communities in the Upper East Region.

The items, which included wheelbarrows, shovels, watering cans, plant nets and cutlasses went to Nangodi, Wakii, Katiu, Sinyansa and Garu-Tempane.

Presenting the items in Bolgatanga, the Board chairman, of NFPDF, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, expressed concern at the rate at which the country's forest was fast depleting.

He said while the decreasing rains over the years were affecting plant growth, the indiscriminate felling of trees was also a big contributory factor.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin noted that trees were important component of the environment and bore life for mankind, thus, the need to preserve the existing plantations and grow more trees.

Mr Awudu Yiremeah, Deputy Regional Minister said the Regional Coordinating Council had instituted a programme aimed at encouraging all families to plant trees around their houses.

Mr Gabriel Osei Gyamfi, Northern Regional Manager of Forestry Department commended the beneficiary communities for raising more than 500,000 seedlings annually for the Forestry Department.