EPA and stakeholders collaborate to protect economic plants

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Upper West Region, is collaborating with stakeholders to control activities that destroy the environment, especially economic and medicinal plants.

The initiative was the EPA’s regional strategy designed to celebrate this year’s World Environmental Day, which will involve planting of about 1, 000 economic plants in the Bagri community of the Lawra District.

Mrs. Zenabu Wasai-King, Upper West Regional Director of EPA, who made this known at a press conference said, the EPA would work with district assemblies, traditional rulers, waste management companies, the media, and social groups in the region, to play appropriate roles in helping to reduce the rate at which the physical environment was being degraded.

She said her outfit would continue to raise awareness on environmental issues among the people in the communities to help sustain land management technologies, and also support men and women to practise environmentally sustainable livelihood activities.

Mrs. Wasai-King said the effect of tree felling was taking a toll on the environment, and that the EPA was adopting measures to address the challenge through the involvement of the people in embarking on planting economic trees to replenish the environment and enhance their livelihoods

The EPA would also encourage men and women in selected communities to practise environmentally sustainable livelihood activities, such as shea-butter processing, soap making, bee-keeping and ruminant rearing, as economic ventures while also protecting the environment.

The EPA Director advised charcoal burners to reduce their activities and also develop interest in planting economic trees while calling on the district assemblies to help reduce the incidents of desertification by enforcing their environmental bye-laws.

The 2014 World Environment Day is on the theme: “Raise Your Voice, Not The Sea Level.”

The Upper Regional launch of the programme would be on Tuesday, June 17.