International Day of Forests 2026: Why Ghana’s forests are not ‘just trees’ but national wealth
Forests are often described as shady, green, the enchanting melody of birds, and rich varieties of flora and fauna.
However, they also speak the language of survival: jobs, household income, water security, farming resilience, energy supply and national stability.
That is why the 2026 International Day of Forests (IDF) theme, “Forests and economies,” matters to Ghana beyond ceremonial speeches.
Saturday, March 21, 2026, marked this year’s IDF—a global awareness platform to highlight the threats of deforestation, illegal activities and the urgent need to protect forest ecosystems while ensuring a sustainable future.
Ghana joined the global observance under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who also serves as the Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
As part of the commemoration, the Government launched the Tree for Life Initiative 2026.
The initiative is a national call for citizens to actively participate in planting and nurturing trees across the country, with the collective goal of building a greener, more resilient and prosperous Ghana—one that strengthens its economy while safeguarding the environment.
Each year, United Nations organisations, such as, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) coordinate global efforts to mark the day.
Across the country, forests and tree-based landscapes quietly sustain key parts of the economy.
They provide wood for construction and furniture, fuel for cooking, ingredients for traditional medicine, products for small-scale enterprise, and protection for watersheds that feed rivers and dams.
Forest economy seen, ignored
When people hear the term, “forest economy,” they often think first of timber. While timber is important, it represents only part of the picture.
A modern forest economy includes not only harvested products but also the ecosystem services forests provide and the industries that depend on them.
In towns and cities, these linkages are visible: carpenters, furniture workshops, sawmills, wood markets, construction inputs, packaging materials and transport services.
In rural areas, forests and trees support livelihoods that are often underreported—charcoal traders, bamboo and rattan artisans, beekeepers, mushroom collectors, seed and fruit gatherers, and households that depend on forest-related income during off-farm seasons.
There is also a practical governance pathway through Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs), which promote community-led stewardship of wildlife and natural resources outside protected areas.
When effectively supported, CREMAs can generate livelihoods through ecotourism, sustainable harvesting and local enterprise, while strengthening conservation efforts.
Water, wealth, forests protect
One of the most undervalued economic roles of forests is water protection.
Forest cover reduces erosion, stabilises soil and sustains watershed functions.
When trees are removed from catchment areas, rainwater flows more rapidly, carrying sediment into rivers and streams.
Over time, this leads to siltation, declining water quality and increased costs of water treatment.
In essence, forests serve as natural water infrastructure and their loss presents a significant economic risk.
The Atewa Forest Range in the Eastern Region, for instance, is widely recognised as the source of major rivers such as the Densu, Birim and Ayensu.
These water bodies support domestic and industrial use, including in Greater Accra.
Protecting such headwaters is therefore not only an environmental priority but also essential for water security and cost-effective water supply.Farming and forests: Not enemies, but partners.
The writer is a public relations & management consultant.
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