The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders would celebrate the 5th Forestry Week and Greening Ghana Day 2016 from May 21 - 27 May, 2016.

The theme for the celebration is: “Forests and Water for Sustaining Lives and Livelihoods”.

A statement signed by the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission said the celebration was to commemorate the International Day of Forests, which falls on March 21 each year.

It is a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees outside the forest.

The UN, however, allows member states to adapt the date of the celebration of the International Day of Forests to suit their peculiar circumstances.

“In view of this, Ghana chooses the month of May every year for the celebration of the Day to coincide with the major rainy season.” the statement explained.

The statement said the forest and wildlife resources of Ghana continued to face serious threats of degradation due to factors such as illegal logging, illegal mining - known in the local parlance as “galamsey”-, unsustainable farming practices, poaching and others.

“The results of these are severe climate change impacts that have resulted in the drying up of many water bodies, extinction of prime timber species and destruction of wildlife habitats,” it said.

The choice of the theme for the celebration was, therefore, to provide the opportunity to educate the public on the relationship between forests and water bodies, the Commission said were essential elements for the lives and livelihoods of mankind.

Activities earmarked for the celebration are Inter-Schools Quiz Competition on “The Role of Forests in Protecting Water Bodies”, on 21st May, 2016, at the Forestry Commission Training Centre (FCTC) Akyawkrom, near Ejisu.

There would be the launch of the “5th Forestry Week & Greening Ghana Day Celebration 2016” on 23rd May, 2016 and a national colloquium on the Role of Forests in Protecting Water Bodies” on 24th May, 2016.

The activities would be climaxed by a Grand Durbar and Greening Ghana Day, on 27th May, 2016, at the Agona SDA College of Education Park, Agona, Ashanti Region.