Atiavi-Glime (V/R), Oct. 6, GNA - Mr Aaron S. Williams, Director of the United States Peace Corps International, has inaugurated a tree planting project to facilitate the restoration of wetland at Atiavi in the Volta Region.

The project which was initiated by Mr Derick Burke, an American Peace Corps Volunteer in Atiavi community is aimed at combating the impact of climate change, which has caused most wetland to dry up. Climate change has also created serious threat to food security. Planting a tree to inaugurate the project, Mr Williams said there is the need for communities around the world to plant more trees to reverse the effect of climate change on the global economy. Mr Burke, had planted more than 8,000 acacia mangium seedlings within three months with the assistance of the people and the collaboration of Save Our Soil Organisation and Trees for The Future, two indigenous non-governmental organisations (NGO). He lauded Ghana for being the first African country to welcome Peace Corps volunteers to the country and national efforts towards bringing change and development in rural communities.

Mr Lovans Owusu Takyi, Country Director of Trees for The Future said his outfit and Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Peace Corps volunteers have provided seeds, technical training, training manuals and materials on agro-forestry, tree planting and alternative livelihood projects to enhance the living standard of the people. Mr Winfred Habada, Director of Save Our Soil Organisation said the body would enhance the efforts of the local people to work harder and support the development initiatives by the Peace Corps volunteers to expand tree planting and agro-forestry practices to surrounding villages.