Basic 6 · Our World and Our People · The Environment and the Weather
Tree Planting as a Civic Duty
In this topic you will explain why tree planting is a civic duty and describe the benefits of trees to communities.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain what a civic duty is
- Describe the benefits of trees
- Choose suitable trees for different purposes
What you already know
- Caring for the environment (Basic 5)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- All Around Us
- Sub-strand
- The Environment and the Weather
- Indicator
- B6.2.1.1.1 – Plant trees in their communities as a civic duty
Introduction
Ghana has lost much of its forest cover. Every citizen can help restore it by planting and caring for trees. This is a civic duty.
1. What Is a Civic Duty?
Civic duty: A responsibility that every citizen has towards their community and country.
Examples of civic duties include obeying laws, paying taxes, voting, keeping the environment clean and taking part in community work. Planting trees is a civic duty because it benefits everyone, now and in the future.
2. Benefits of Trees
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| clean air | trees absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen |
| shade and cooling | reduce heat around homes and schools |
| prevent erosion | roots hold soil together |
| windbreaks | protect buildings and crops from storms |
| rainfall | forests help to bring rain |
| food and income | fruits, nuts and timber |
| medicine | bark, leaves and roots used as herbal medicine |
| habitat | homes for birds and animals |
| beauty | make communities attractive |
3. Choosing Trees
| Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|
| fruit | mango, orange, avocado, cashew, coconut |
| shade | neem, almond (Indian almond), mahogany |
| timber | teak, mahogany, cedrela, wawa |
| medicine | neem, moringa |
| northern savannah | shea, dawadawa, baobab, cashew |
4. National Efforts
Ghana's Green Ghana Day, launched in 2021, mobilises citizens to plant millions of trees each year. The Forestry Commission supplies seedlings and protects forest reserves. Schools, churches, mosques and communities take part. However, the success of tree planting depends on caring for the trees after they are planted.
Trees also have a special place in Ghanaian culture. Many towns are named after trees, such as Odumase (under the odum tree), and chiefs often hold meetings under large shade trees. Traditional communities protect sacred trees and groves. By planting trees, we continue this respect for nature and pass a greener country to the next generation.
Even one tree planted and cared for by each pupil would add millions of trees across Ghana every year.
New words
- civic duty
- A responsibility of every citizen.
- citizen
- A member of a country.
- erosion
- The wearing away of soil.
- windbreak
- A row of trees that protects against wind.
- forest reserve
- An area of forest protected by law.
- Forestry Commission
- The Ghana agency that manages forests.
Summary
- Civic duties are responsibilities of every citizen.
- Trees provide air, shade, soil protection, food, medicine and habitats.
- Choose trees according to purpose and climate.
- Green Ghana and the Forestry Commission promote tree planting.
Class activity: Tree Benefits Survey
- Count the trees in your school compound.
- Record their names and benefits.
- Suggest where more trees should be planted.
You need: Local tree seedlings, Hand hoe, Watering can
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is a civic duty?
- A. Planting trees
- B. Littering
- C. Breaking laws
- D. Wasting water
Show answer
Answer: Planting treesIt benefits everyone.2. Tree roots help to prevent…
- A. soil erosion
- B. rainfall
- C. oxygen
- D. shade
Show answer
Answer: soil erosionThey hold soil.3. Which tree is suitable for the northern savannah?
- A. Shea
- B. Cocoa
- C. Rubber
- D. Oil palm
Show answer
Answer: SheaDrought tolerant.4. Trees give out oxygen.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThrough photosynthesis.5. Planting trees is only the government's duty.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt is every citizen's duty.6. A row of trees that protects against wind is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: windbreakShields crops and homes.7. State four benefits of trees.
Show answer
Answer: Clean air, shade, prevent erosion, fruits (or medicine, habitat).Any four.8. Why is tree planting a civic duty and not just a personal choice?
Show answer
Answer: Trees benefit the whole community and future generations, so every citizen shares the responsibility.Common good.
Homework
- Choose a spot at home where a tree could be planted and explain your choice.