Kumasi, Ghana, March 21, 2026 (RESCONI) — The Resource Conservation Initiative (RESCONI) has underscored the importance of forests as one of the world’s most valuable natural assets, critical to environmental sustainability and socio-economic development, particularly in developing countries like Ghana.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Forests. The 2026 theme, “Forests and Economies,” highlights the vital role forests play in driving sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty, reinforcing that economic development and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand.
Programme Officer of RESCONI, Akosua Pokua Boakye, stressed the significance of the day on the global environmental calendar.
She noted that forests are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as they support over 1.6 billion people globally and host more than 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity, making them indispensable to both economic resilience and ecological stability.
“In Ghana, the forestry sector continues to play a vital role in national development,” she said. “It contributes significantly to employment and export earnings, supporting over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs while generating substantial foreign exchange through timber exports.
“Non-timber forest products such as mushrooms, medicinal plants, bushmeat, and fuelwood also provide income, nutrition, and healthcare support for many rural households.
“Given that Ghana’s economy largely depends on natural resources and rain-fed agriculture, it is closely tied to the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems,” she added.
RESCONI activities
To commemorate the day, RESCONI, in collaboration with the Renewable Natural Resources Students Association of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (RENARSA-KNUST), organised an inter-programme quiz competition and media engagement activities, including a visit to Focus FM, a campus-based radio station.
The initiatives were aimed at promoting knowledge sharing and public engagement. The quiz competition brought together students from Forest Resource Technology, Natural Resource Management, and Environmental Science.
It was designed to deepen students’ understanding of forestry concepts, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management.
The media engagement on Focus FM also provided a platform to educate both students and the wider public on the economic importance of forests, emerging environmental challenges, and the role of youth in advancing conservation and sustainable forestry practices.
Student perspective
A third-year student, Tahiru Saani, said the activities enhanced awareness of the economic value of forests and their contribution to national development.
“The event encouraged critical thinking and promoted active youth participation in forest conservation efforts,” he said.
At the end of the competition, Forest Resource Technology emerged as the winner, receiving a cash prize of GH₵700, along with learning materials and certificates. Natural Resource Management came second with GH₵300, while Environmental Science received educational materials and certificates.
RESCONI reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, capacity building, and youth-driven advocacy, calling on stakeholders to support sustainable forest management and protect forest resources for future generations.
