Dodowa (G/A), Oct. 24, GNA - A call has been made for a legislation on the development and sustainable management of bamboo plantations to ensure their long-run viability as substitute for timber. The laws should clearly define the rights of ownership of reserves and non-reserves groves, the rights of harvesting, sale and utilisation as well as farmer company relationship in the use of raw materials from bamboo.

Mr David Coleman, Chairman of the Bamboo and Rattan Network (BARNET), said lack of penetrative framework and laws for the industry was a major problem that could affect the future development of the industry.

He was speaking at a sensitisation workshop on bamboo and rattan development programme for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry on Friday.

The workshop is to seek the support of the Parliamentarians for the development of the bamboo and rattan programme.

Mr Coleman said full Government support in information flow to the people on the use of bamboo was essential to guarantee its future as a replacement for timber.

He called for training for personnel engaged in the field to enhance their technical capabilities.

Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands and Environment, said the over- exploitation of the forest called for the development of alternative resources to timber since the rather slow pace of replacement was creating an alarming situation for the wood processing industry.

He said the large-scale processing of bamboo and rattan resources would eventually reduced the current high demand for timber, generate employment as well as earn foreign exchange for the country.

He said the Government had adopted as a national bamboo and rattan project to facilitate the development of the industry. Prof Fobih announced the donation of 18 different species of bamboo to Ghana by the University of Hawaii to complement the eight indigenous species.

Mrs Gifty Ohui Allotey, Programme Administrator of the Bamboo Rattan Development Project, said the project had been put in place to promote the use of bamboo, sustain the management of bamboo resources and to build the capacity of personnel.