Partners of Nature Africa (PONA), a non-governmental
organisation (NGO) in the area of afforestation, rejuvenation of galamsey sites
and poverty reduction, has set up three new nurseries at Appiahkrom in the
Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region to boost its rejuvenation
projects.
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| IMAGE: goabroad.com |
According to Forster Amofah, Director of Operations for
PONA, the organisation has set up rubber plantations to serve as material base
for the nationwide rejuvenation of galamsey sites, a project that has already
taken off in some parts of the country.
He disclosed that PONA had also established teak and
ciderela nurseries and would consider the appropriate species to use, depending
on the nature of the soil.
“We want to establish nurseries with various species that
would meet the different types of soils in the country, but the overall intent
is to ensure that lands destroyed by illegal mining are given back life to
serve useful purposes to the communities,” Mr Amofah stated.
He noted that PONA decided on rubber seedlings due to its
economic benefits and relatively shorter period for its benefits to be seen
since it takes only six years to mature for rubber harvesting.
“Rubber matures faster than the other species and also has
huge economic benefits for the catchment communities and we want the
communities to gain from the rejuvenation process through employment
generation,” Mr Amofe said.
He called for support from corporate bodies, and all
Ghanaians towards the exercise, considering the serious implications of
environmental degradation on the health and wellbeing of the nation and beyond.
The rejuvenation works by PONA have already begun at Akyease
and Peminase in the Ejisu Juaben District and Asiwa in the Bosome Freho
District, with over 40 acres of galamsey-destroyed lands rejuvenated.
Source: Daily Heritage
