Dormaa-Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo), 24 Feb. '99,

The Dormaa district office of the forestry department collected about 1.4 billion cedis as revenue from its operations last year. The revenue which came from royalties, concession rents and the conveyance fees, had already been disbursed to government chest, traditional councils and district assemblies, Mr Richard Gyimah, the district forestry officer told newsmen at Dormaa-Ahenkro yesterday. He said the department, in collaboration with Mim timber company, Oti Yeboah complex limited and a number of communities constructed green belts around the Pamu-Berekum forest reserve to check bushfires. Mr Gyimah also said the department has a stock of about 70,000 seedlings of different economic trees for supply to communities, institutions and individuals who wish to undertake afforestation programmes adding that the department is doing everything possible to check illegal exploitation of timber and other forest resources in the area. He said the department will provide technical advice to individuals, non-governmental organisations and institutions interested in afforestation programmes while the Dormaa district assembly and the Ghana National Fire Service has embarked on anti-bushfire campaigns throughout the district to educate the people on the need to protect the environment.