The Forestry Commission has launched the REDD+ road show to sensitize Ghanaians on the alarming rate of deforestation in the 
country.
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is a mechanism that has been under negotiation by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2005, with the twin objectives of mitigating climate change through reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and removing greenhouse gases through enhanced forest management in developing countries.
In the last two decades, various studies estimate that land use change, including deforestation and forest degradation, accounts for 17-29% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The campaign which is aimed at educating Ghanaians on the effects of Climate Change and how to address them has become very imperative.
Speaking at the media launch of the campaign in Accra, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Samuel Afari Dartey said “protecting the forest was very important to the existence of the human race.”
According to him “the most important benefit of the forest is the environmental benefit and that has to do with the water shed protection activities of the forest including food security, making sure that basic food crops as well as cash crops grow or yield very well.”
Mr Dartey further noted that Cocoa, the largest foreign exchange was at risk if Ghanaians do not protect the forests.
“It is also scientifically proven that our health status level depends and relate very much to the kind of forest cover that we have in this country” he added
The road show which will begin from mid – September through to early November is on the theme “Reducing Forest Loss and Climate Change Impacts through REDD+; our collective responsibility” and is meant to galvanize public support for actions and measures targeted at addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Ghana.
Activities lined up for the REDD+ Road show include visits to Community Resources Management Areas (CREMA); schools outreach; floats; radio and TV discussions, documentaries and publication of articles in the media. There will also be endorsement messages from REDD+ icons, ambassadors and local heroes on the need for sustainable management of Ghana’s forests and wildlife resources.
A “REDD EYE” campaign, targeting the Ghanaian youth will also be launched to create awareness of REDD+ amongst Ghana’s future leaders. The REDD+ Road show event for the year will be climaxed with a National REDD+ forum at the Accra International Conference Center on 4th November, 2014.
The Road show train will make four stops nationwide: Damango (from 29th September to 3rd October); Dormaa Ahenkro (6th – 10th October); Tarkwa (13th – 17th October); and Hohoe (20th – 24th October) with public attention being drawn to pressing environmental issues including indiscriminate harvesting of Rosewood, illegal mining and chainsaw activities as well as rampant bushfires.
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