Fumesua (Ash), June 19, GNA - Mr. Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Forestry, has called on Ghanaians to support efforts aimed at preventing the depletion of the nation's forest resources.

He expressed worry that Ghana's forest cover, which stood at 8.2 million hectares in 1900, has now been reduced to about 1.2 million hectares, with an estimated lost of 65,000 hectares of forest annually. Mr. Dauda made the call in a speech read for him at the launch of the 10th anniversary celebration of Tropenbos International, Ghana, a non-governmental organization (NGO), engaged in afforestation, at Fumesua, near Kumasi on Friday.

It was under the theme: "Celebrating 10 years of making knowledge work for forests and people". Mr. Dauda said that the Ministry would ensure sustainable management of forest resources and work with stakeholders to check the wanton destruction of the forest. He said because government was serious about the protection of the country's forest, it has initiated the National Forest Plantation Project. Mr. Samuel Nketia, Programme Director of Tropenbos, said that the NGO over the last decade has initiated a programme to support policies that affect forest-based livelihoods. He said that the programme focused on multi-purpose forest use, collaborative resource management and effective planning, policy formulation and implementation. Dr Kyere Boateng, Scientific Coordinator of the NGO, said activities lined up for the celebration included lectures, symposium, debates, field trip to Dodi Island and community durbar.