The Ghana Federation of Forest and Farm Producers (GhaFFaP) on Thursday called on all forest and farm producers and stakeholders to continue to observe the COVID-19 prevention protocols to mark the World Environment Day.
The event, which falls on Friday, June 5, 2020, is on the theme: ‘Biodiversity”.
“As we celebrate World Environment Day, GhaFFaP wishes to once again and highlight the important contribution of Forest and Farm Producers as agents for the preservation of biodiversity and further call for collective action and partnerships among stakeholders,” it said.
A statement issued in Accra by Madam Victoria Adongo, Executive Director, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana on behalf of GhaFFaP said this year’s celebration amid the coronavirus was critical.
The Federation, therefore, called for a deeper reflection on human activities and its consequential effect on the eco-system and the overall wellbeing of mankind.
It said for GhaFFaP members, the outbreak of the corona-virus was an opportunity to critically re-examine activities its impact on the forest and farm resources, and human wellbeing as a whole.
It said scientific studies in recent times revealed a growing linkage of zoonotic related diseases such as COVID-19 and environmental degradation such as deforestation, destruction of natural habitats, and biodiversity loss.
“It is our firm belief that there is the need for the meaningful and progressive transformation of the status quo in respect of the environment towards saving lives and livelihoods for present and future generations,’ the statement stated.
GhaFFaP as part of its strategic initiatives is promoting the building of a healthy environment that contributes to the preservation of Biodiversity through the GhaFFaP Green Ghana Initiative (3G).
The 3G Initiative is expected to ensure the conservation of the environment for future generations while creating an enabling environment for GhaFFaP small scale forest and farm producers’ investment through increased tree planting, sustainable and diversified livelihoods, and sustainable land restoration.
It said GhaFFaP would build synergies and partner with government and other private sector stakeholders under the 3G initiative to restore forest landscapes through conservation farming and tree planting and address climate change in the forest, transition, and savannah ecological zones of Ghana.
Source: GNA
