Tamale, Oct. 11, GNA - The Northern Regional office of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) on Saturday planted more than 2,000 different species of trees at the University for Development Studies Tamale campus as part of activities to mark this year's World Tourist Day. Tourist clubs of students of Ghana High School, Vittin High School and Nkpasini High Schools took part in the tree planting exercise, while the Ministry of Forestry and the Department of parks and Gardens provided the tree seedlings.

Addressing the students, Mr. William Ayambire, Northern Regional Director of GTB, stressed the importance of tree planting and said due to global climatic changes, it was necessary to take measures to address its negative effects on the environment. He urged the students to cultivate the habit of tree planting and also educate their parents to stop felling trees and farming along river banks.

Mr. Ayambire said environmental pollution caused by vehicles and emissions of carbon dioxide from factories were a threat to human survival and needed the concerted efforts of all to address in order to save the earth from destruction. He said the tourist industry was the fastest growing sector of the economy and the third major employer and was also a vehicle for rural development and poverty reduction.