Winneba, June 8, GNA - The Winneba District Office of the Forestry Department of the Forestry Services Commission last year nursed 50,000 tree seedlings to help protect the environment. Mr Ernest Nkansah, the District Manager, told the GNA in an interview that 430,332 seedlings were given out free of charge to schools, non-governmental organizations, churches and individuals wishing to undertake tree planting programme.

The seedlings include cassia, mahogany, nim and teak. He mentioned some of the beneficiary schools as Mfantseman Girls Senior School at Saltpond, Methodist Primary and Saint John Anglican Junior High in Winneba. The rest were Pan-African University at Gomoa Pomadze, Seventh Day Adventist Senior High at Gomoa Jukwa, Catholic Parishes at Gomoa Dawurampong, Awutu Bereku and Gomoa Potsin. Mr Nkansah said the trees were planted not only to decorate the areas but to also serve as windbreaks to protect their buildings against rainstorm. He said the Prison Camps at Awutu Bereku and Gomoa Osamkrom also benefited from the supply to establish woodlots to beauty the area and also for their fuel wood. Mr Nkansah appealed to Ghanaians to desist from cutting down trees indiscriminately but should rather plant more trees.