The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bioh has inaugurated a 14-member landscape management board put together by Rainforest Alliance and Olam Ghana at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region.
The landscape management boards are to help fight the fast sinking rainforests in the area.
Five forest reserves in the Sefwi area are fast depleting.
The depletion is so fast that the Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area Okatakyie Bumangama II has warned the government to take immediate steps to restore them or lose them by 2020.
Activities of illegal chainsaw operators, illegal miners, unlawful entry into reserves by farmers to plant food crops among others have threatened the existence of the Sui River Forest, Suhuma Forest, Tano Ehuro Forest, Tano Suhien Forest and the Santomang Forest Reserves in the Sefwi Wiawso, Bodi and the Akontombra districts.
Speaking at the inauguration, Benito Owusu Bio assured the chiefs and people of the Sefwi Wiawso traditional area that government is concerned about the depletion of reserves in the area.
“We are also waiting for a consignment of weapons as guns to be given to forest guards so it can help them protect these reserves from sometimes the armed illegal loggers. Some of the guards have already received training pending the arrival of the consignment which is being handled by the Ghana Armed Forces.”
He then tasked the landscape Management Boards to be diligent in their work to restore the depleting reserves. He also assured them of government’s support towards managing the forest successfully.
He explained that “Government fully supports the Landscape Management Area approach to encourage local people to integrate Forest and Wildlife management into their farming and land management systems as a legitimate land use option.
The government will continue to work with you to strengthen the legislative processes and enhance the legal backing for this governance structure.”
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
The post W/Region: Board inaugurated to protect forest reserves appeared first on Citi Newsroom.
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