Akyem Asuoso, Dec. 02, GNA - Mr Collins Dauda, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, on Wednesday called for concerted efforts from chiefs and other stakeholders to save the forests from being depleted. He noted that if efforts were not made to prevent the rate at which the forests are being depleted sooner than later Ghanaians would be compelled to import wood from other countries for their domestic use Mr Dauda said this in a speech read on his behalf at the handing over ceremony of a Community Forest Management Project (CFMP), at Akyem Asuoso in the Birim Central Municipality. He called for the protection of both forest reserves and outside reserve and said all had a role to play in the sustainability of the forest. Mr Dauda appealed to chiefs to monitor closely the activities of illegal chainsaw operators and all others whose activities tended to degrade the forest. Ms Ophelia Koomson, the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the Assembly, together with the Forest Services Division (FSD) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had been involved in consultations with stakeholders on sustainable forest management and awareness campaigns in selected project communities on the need for forest conservation.

Ms Koomson said currently the assembly was playing a lead role in the New National Plantation Development Programme of the government where 30 hectares of Cedrella and Ofram had been established in Essen Epam Forest Reserve during the 2010 planting season. "Thirty people from the fringe communities have been employed by the Government to work in the plantations," she said. She indicated that the Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the FSD had been keen on the protection of the forest reserves from illegal chainsaw operations in the area. She expressed the hope that the project strategy adopted for the sustainable management, development and protection of the Esuboni Forest Reserve after its handing over to the Forestry Commission and the fringe communities would provide improved benefits to all stakeholders. Mr Wilson Owusu-Asare, Akyem Oda District Forest Services Manager, giving an overview of the CFMP, said it was designed to create opportunities for poor and unemployed beneficiaries to engage in activities that would result in the improvement of their income whist sustaining the natural resources. Mr Owusu-Asare said the project site is compartment four of the Esuboni Forest Reserve and Forest fringe communities involved in the project are Small London, Nyamenti, Kofidade, Owusukwae, Mmofram, Asuoso and Badukrom. 02 Dec. 10