Administration announces Hugh C.A Brown as new head of the Forest Services Division.
Fresh Take:
Hey there! Let's chat about Ghana's new forestry Boss, Hugh C.A. Brown, who's taken the reins as the Executive Director of the Forest Services Division (FSD) and Acting CEO of the Forestry Commission. This guy's all about leading our nation's forestry management efforts, and he's got the chops to back it up.
With a whopping 28 years under his belt in tropical forest management, protection, and development, Hugh's been making moves since the mid-90s. He's got degrees from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Yale University, and he's a certified member of prestigious organizations like the Ghana Institute of Foresters, Society of American Foresters, and Society for Ecological Restoration.
Now, you might've heard about Hugh's involvement with TEAKNET, an international network centered around teak timber. He's Africa's rep on their steering committee, and played a significant role in securing Ghana's bid to host the upcoming World Teak Conference in September.
Under his leadership as Director of Operations (Plantations), a sizable 450,000 hectares of degraded forest land are currently under restoration nationwide. He's also coordinated the planting of millions of tree seedlings for the President's "Green Ghana" projects, aiming to restore our degraded landscapes and fight climate change.
Hugh's even won some major awards for his work, like the Prospect Street Award for environmental leadership by Yale University—making him the first person of African descent to snag that prestigious prize.
One thing that sets Hugh apart is his focus on involving local communities in forestry programs. He led an initiative where the ACP Estate Residents' Association partnered to plant 1,000 tree seedlings as part of Ghana's "Tree for Life" project. He's also been a driving force behind the Government's "Green Ghana Project," mapping out strategic planting locations and mobilizing wide participation across the country.
This guy's vision goes beyond just planting trees—he wants to make tree planting an annual event to ensure their survival, and he's aiming to plant 100 million trees by 2024. He's also exploring partnerships with community groups to maintain the greening efforts long-term, as part of his broader goal to bring sustainability and forest regeneration to Ghana.
- In his tenure as the Executive Director of the Forest Services Division (FSD) and Acting CEO of the Forestry Commission, Hugh C.A. Brown is utilizing his extensive background in technology and development to lead Ghana's forestry management efforts.
- At an upcoming conference, the World Teak Conference in September, Ghana will showcase its forestry projects, largely thanks to Hugh's involvement in the international Network TEAKNET and his role in securing Ghana's bid to host the event.
- As part of his vision for environmental science, Hugh believes in using the power of education-and-self-development and personal-growth to advocated for climate-change awareness and responsible business practices in the market.
- To ensure the survival of these new growths, Hugh is planning to make tree planting an annual event as part of his broader goal to bring sustainability and forest regeneration to Ghana.
- From a report, it is evident that under Hugh's leadership, hundreds of thousands of hectares of degraded forest land are currently under restoration by harnessing the latest technology and development methodologies.
- By coordinating the planting of millions of tree seedlings for projects like the President's "Green Ghana" and initiatives like the "Tree for Life" project, Hugh aims to promote the value of learning and appreciate the impact of science on our environment.
