The Secretary of the National Saw-millers Association, Mr.. W. K. Agyare, has called on members of the association to co-operate with technical officers of the Forestry Department to clamp down on illegal chainsaw operators in order to save the forests from further degradation. He advised all Regional and District Executives of the Association to educate their members on the rationale behind the ban on 12 timber species. They should also report all illegal chainsaw operators to the appropriate forestry authorities to help check environmental degradation. Mr.. Agyare was addressing the Kwahu South District branch of the Association at Nkawkaw. He said the nature of their work makes them partners and stakeholders in the timber industry. They should contribute to the preservation of the forests. He added that the Association is negotiating with the Forestry Department to review the quota of authorised trees that can be felled by chainsaw operators. The National President of the Association, Mr.. P. K. Awuah, appealed to the members to organise tree planting exercises to enhance the government's afforestation programme. He said the Association has cultivated a 20 - hectare teak plantation at Akim Tafo, while large hectres have been acquired at Kwahu Tafo and Subingya near Wenchi, in Brong Ahafo, for the cultivation of different species of timber to support the afforestation programme.

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