Environmental Protection Agency funds 17 institutions to improve depleted vegetation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is funding 17 institutions and non-governmental organizations in the Northern Region to improve the vegetative cover of the region.

The EPA has awarded GH¢214, 000 to the 17 institutions which comprise 12 community organizations, five NGOs to implement 17 projects across the region all geared towards improving the depleted vegetation.

The projects are part of a CIDA fund of $7.2 million for the Ghana Environment Management (GEM) project which was started in 2008 and is due to end in 2012.

Mr. Abu Iddrisu, Northern Regional Director of the EPA, said this in Tamale on Monday during a meeting with the implementing institutions during which they were advised to strictly adhere to the proposals they had submitted.

He said the project would be monitored and non-performing institutions would be blacklisted, adding that more institutions would be added as more funding was secured.

Mr. Joseph Dasah, the Northern Regional Coordinating Director, appealed to the beneficiary institutions to make good use of the opportunity given to them.

Mr. Emmanuel Djablatey, Northern Region Forestry Officer, said environmental ills being experienced was as a result of the negative activities and attitudes of the people and advised Ghanaians to change their attitudes towards the environment.

“We need the trees back to provide ambiance to our environment and our survival depends on how we restore our lost trees”, he said.

Source: GNA