The Central Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. Francis Mbawini Zakari has encouraged Ghanaians to grow and nurture a tree each, to help reverse the effects of climate change.

He noted that it would require the intervention of people sensitive  nature to reverse the devastating effects of climate change since their activities largely contribute to the world’s environmental problems.

Mr. Zakari made the call at the Region’s celebration of this year’s World Environment Day, which was on the national theme: “Plant and nurture a tree to green Ghana”, at Assin -Jakai in the Assin South District.

The theme for the global celebration is “Your planet needs you- unite to combat climate change”.

“As Ghanaians, our commitment to afforestation programmes must be total,” he stressed.

He noted that negative environmental practices such as indiscriminate tree felling and pollution of water bodies and the emission of dangerous gases from factories and vehicles contribute to climate change, thereby affecting rainfall patterns with resultant effects on agriculture and health implications.

In speech the Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe echoed the call for the citizenry to help preserve water bodies and forest reserves and endeavour to undertake activities that will help sustain the environment.

She observed that posterity would not forgive the present generation if it failed to preserve the environment.

Mrs Benyiwa-Doe, also urged all district assemblies to enforce their bye- laws on sanitation to help stem the outbreak of communicable diseases.

The acting District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Samuel Yirenkyi Appiah also asked the public to plant trees in their communities.

The Chief of Assin- Daamang also appealed to chain saw operators to halt their activities because it was depleting the country’s forests.

GNA/AMA