Eco Restore launches tree planting on World Environment Day, targets 142,000 trees in 19 communities

Eco Restore, a leading reforestation and social enterprise committed to blending indigenous sustainable practices with modern regenerative techniques, has launched its annual tree planting month at Takorayiri in the North East Region of Ghana.

This year’s campaign aims to plant a total of 142,000 trees, including 100,000 Shea trees and 42,000 non-Shea trees, across 19 communities by the end of 2025. The initiative coincides with the celebration of World Environment Day (WED), observed annually on June 5, under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution.” The theme aligns with Eco Restore’s broader mission to promote sustainable land use, restore biodiversity, and improve food security.

The tree planting drive forms part of the Global Shea Landscape Emission Reduction Project (GSLERP), a five-year programme launched in 2024. Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the project is jointly implemented by the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Eco Restore is collaborating with Bunge, a major international Shea processor, and Agriterra, to reverse land degradation, improve soil health, and enhance agricultural productivity to ensure long-term food security.

The Chief of Takorayiri, Mba Takora Dinbahara Debru, commended the organisation for its efforts to restore degraded landscapes and improve environmental health. He appealed for further support to plant more trees, highlighting their importance for clean air and traditional medicinal purposes.

Executive Director of Eco Restore, Dr. Peter Lovett, noted that rampant deforestation, particularly through illegal logging, has severely affected agricultural output and forced the government to increase food imports.

“If we grow more trees, it would create employment, improve food production, protect infrastructure, and support sustainable livelihoods, thereby reducing poverty and enhancing food security,” he said.

He explained that Eco Restore’s vision is rooted in restoring biodiversity, enhancing soil fertility, and safeguarding food systems for future generations. “This encouraged us to enter the sector to restore the Shea parklands and promote an innovative, beyond-sustainable, regenerative farming model.”

Dr. Lovett revealed that Eco Restore has planted over one million trees in the past six years, including Shea and other species, to reverse environmental degradation. He urged corporate bodies and individuals to join hands with government in supporting reforestation, particularly of Shea trees, which not only restore ecosystems but also provide a vital source of livelihood for women.

Co-Director of Eco Restore, Issahaku Zakaria, emphasized the environmental benefits of the initiative, including its potential to mitigate climate change through carbon absorption, improve air and water quality, reduce urban heat, and preserve habitats for wildlife.

He urged the public to avoid practices that harm the environment and instead support tree planting and preservation. “We must replace the aged trees that have been cut down to protect the environment for the next generation,” he said.

The launch event drew several key stakeholders, including Madam Agnes A. Gandaa, Coordinator of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC); Madam Scholastica Atarah from the Centre for Ecological and Livelihood (CEAL); and Dr. Michael Barnor, Officer-in-Charge at the Bole Sub-station of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

The initiative marks a major step in Ghana’s efforts to combat climate change and build resilient communities through ecological restoration.