Nature’s lifeline in the fight against climate change

Last week, I received devastating news: an avenue of mature indigenous trees which I had grown from seed was felled, all in the name of progress.

A dusty track, not maintained for over 25 years, was suddenly chosen for refurbishment.

Without warning or consultation, the earth-moving vehicles arrived and tore up the landscape and along with it the trees I had lovingly nursed for over 15 years.

Despite begging that the road be diverted slightly to allow what had now become a small forest and habitat for birds and other wildlife to be maintained, the ‘powers that be’ refused to budge.

Even the landowners were in agreement that the forest should stand.

Far be it from me to stand in the way of progress, but to destroy trees when an alternative route through open grassland was available does not make sense.

Are we no longer concerned about the environment? Is the Green Ghana Project no longer relevant with a new government?

At a time when climate change is being felt all over the world, it is Africa which will doubtless suffer most due to the temperature rise if we don’t maintain our forests and plant more trees.

As I write this, I read of encroachment into Achimota Forest and illegal loggers felling ancient trees on the fringes of Aburi Botanical Gardens.

This is an issue which we all must address and bring to the attention of the government.

As stated by the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, “Climate change threatens the effective enjoyment of a range of human rights, including those to life, water and sanitation, food, health, housing, self-determination, culture and development.

States have an obligation to prevent the adverse effects of climate change and ensure that those affected by it, particularly the vulnerable, have access to effective remedies and means of adaptation to enjoy lives of human dignity”.

There is no doubt that extreme weather conditions are caused by human activity: burning of fossil fuels, air pollution, deforestation, etc.

While the wanton felling of the trees is bad enough, the once grassy landscape has now been turned into a scene reminiscent of a World War 1 battlefield. Dust coats every living thing.

Harmattan is a dusty time without adding to the air pollution with a man-made disaster.

Air pollution is a factor of human-caused climate change, and the situation in Accra is even worse.

The severity of air pollution is expressed in averages of PM 2.5. In 2019, the average PM 2.5 levels in Accra were alarmingly 11 times higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended levels.

In that year, over 3000 people suffered premature deaths, according to the same report, and most of this air pollution is transport-related (old vehicles, especially ‘tro-tros’ emitting dangerous fumes, unpaved roads all over, causing suspended dust particles).

It is against this backdrop of deteriorating climate conditions that the “Green Ghana” project was most welcome as a reliable and effective climate change combatant.

The “Green Ghana” project was initiated as a policy to restore the lost forest area of Ghana, as well as to combat the adverse effects of climate change.

This is one policy which should be spared the partisan approach and should be supported by all for our collective good. 

Trees are ultra-important in mankind’s efforts to mitigate the harmful, destructive potential of climate change.

Through photosynthesis, trees remove carbon dioxide, which has been generated by our copious reliance on the burning of fossil fuels as an energy source.

Given that it is the breathing in of carbon dioxide that is responsible for the proliferation of many cardiovascular diseases, the planting of trees and the maintenance of the existing stock should be a national security issue.

Further, trees store carbon in their trunks and also in the soil, and most importantly, release vital oxygen into the atmosphere.

With the WHO saying that air pollution killed more people than COVID, malaria, etc., the importance of planting trees cannot be underestimated.

Trees, apart from holding soil together and thus preventing soil erosion, have an aesthetic value as well: they attract birds and wildlife, and most crucially, they beautify our towns and communities.

For these compelling reasons, I implore all to take the “Green Ghana” initiative seriously.

It is vitally important that all parts of government engage in ‘joined-up thinking’.

It makes no sense for one arm of government to espouse an effective policy only for another branch of government to do exactly the opposite and ignore it.