Sefwi Wiawso (W/R), Sept 21, GNA - Nana Poku Bosompim, Assistant District Manager of the Forest Services Division, said 20,212. 02 hectares of land had been planted with tree seedlings, under the National Forest Plantation Programme (NFPP), in the Western Region last year. He announced this to GNA at Attakorm near Sefwi Wiawso on Wednesday, after members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry visited the Sui River Forest Reserve.

They included Mr. Albert Abongo, Chairman, Mr. Albert Kwasi Zigah, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Andrews Adjei-Yaboah, Ranking Member, Mr. Ofosu Asamoah, Deputy Ranking Member and Dr (Reverend) Joses Asare-Akoto, member. Nana Bosompim said the NFPP offered direct employment to 28,308 worker= s in 2010. He said trees of high economic value such as Teak, Mahogany, Afram and fruit trees such as Ceiba, mango and cashew were planted. Nana Bosompim said 1,147 trees were planted and 1,788 direct employments were created in the Region.

He said the NFPP was being implemented in the Sefwi-Wiawso District, Ahwinaso-Bibiani-Bekwai District, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

Nana Bosompim said the target of planting tree seedlings on 32,000 hectares of land could not be achieved in last year due to erratic rainfall pattern and land litigations among other factors. He said the target for 2011 is 10,000 hectares of land to ensure the expansion of existing plantations and maintenance of trees planted. Nana Bosompim said the programme was initiated in 2002 and re-launched in 2010 with coverage to include forests outside the reserves. He said about 67,000 hectares of land has been planted with tree seedlings since 2002.