Winneba (C/R), July 4, GNA - The Winneba District Office of the Forestry Department of the Forestry Services Commission, last year nursed a total number of 50,000 different species of tree seedlings to help protect the environment.

Mr Ernest Nkansah-Kwarteng, District Manager of the Department, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Winneba on Sunday.

He said that 43,332 Cassia, Mahogany, Neem and Teak seedlings were distributed free of charge to individuals, schools, non-governmental organizations and churches wishing to undertake tree planting.

Mr Ernest Nkansah-Kwarteng mentioned Mfantseman Girls Senior School at Saltpond, Methodist Primary School and Saint John Anglican Junior High School in Winneba as some of the beneficiaries. The rest were Pan-African University at Gomoa Pomadze, Seventh-Day Adventist Senior High School at Gomoa Jukwa, Catholic Parishes at Gomoa Dawurampong, Awutu Bereku and Gomoa Potsin. Mr Nkansah-Kwarteng advised all communities to plant tress to decorate compounds and to serve as windbreak to protect buildings from rainstorm.

He said Prison Camps at Awutu Bereku and Gomoa Osamkrom were supplied with tree seedlings to establish woodlots for fuel wood. Mr Nkansah-Kwarteng said the supply of tree seedlings formed part of government's contribution to the greening of the environment. He asked government institutions wishing to establish afforestation or woodlots to contact the District Office for assistance, and individuals in need of few seedlings to contact private nurseries.

Mr Nkansah-Kwarteng appealed to Ghanaians to desist from indiscriminate felling of trees because trees help in preserving the ecosystem.

He advised the people to refrain from destroying vegetation along rivers and other water bodies to prevent them from drying up due to their exposure to the sun.