The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Mahama Ayariga who announced this on Thursday at Yendi when he paid a courtesy call to the regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Abulai Yabkubu Andani said the move was part of government's effort to protect the environment.

 

He hinted that the Environment Protection Agency had been tasked to team up with the Forestry Department to acquire seedlings for the tree planting exercise to begin later, this year.

 

Mr. Ayariga deplored the wonton destruction of the forests and stressed the need to halt the practice.

 

He said it was the intention of the ministry to put traditional rulers in the forefront of the tree planting exercise.

 

Mr. Ayariga, therefore, appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders, to assist for the project to succeed.

 

He also indicated the ministry's readiness to involve educational institutions to pay a role in the project.

 

Kampakuya-Na welcomed the desire of the ministry to protect the environment for future generations and pledged to offer the needed assistance to the ministry to achieve its objective.

 

The regent expressed worry about the manner in which the Forestry Department condoned with foreigners to fell trees indiscriminately in the eastern part of the region.

 

Kampakuya-Na, therefore, urged the minister to liaise with the Forestry Commission to halt the illegal felling of trees.