The Forestry Commission has asked mining companies to engage the services of indigenes in mining communities to embark on afforestation initiatives to reclaim lost forests.

The call follows a move by the Forestry Commission to partner some firms to plant trees at selected mining sites.

Speaking after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the commission and Asante Gold Chirano, Chief Executive of the commission, John Allotey called for more collaboration to reclaim lost lands and forests.

The MoU is for a thirteen year period, after which the reclaimed forest area will be handed over to the Forestry Commission.

“We hope that they will be able to reclaim all the lost vegetation and return the field to green as it was. I must urge you to look at planting the indigenous trees that used to be there first, so that we can quickly facilitate the return of biodiversity”, he said.

Stressing on the importance of engaging locals, Mr. Allotey said the collaboration will encourage people living in mining communities to own the project.

“We wish that more of the indigenous spaces at the place before the impact will be planted so that we’ll be able to maintain the biodiversity of the place. We’ll also expect that most of the people who will be involved in the reforestation project will be people from the local community so that we’ll be providing some benefits to the communities around that area”, he stressed.

General Manager for Asante Gold Chirano, Stephen Asante Yamoah pledged the support of the company to reclaim the area as specified in its afforestation plan.