The government of Ghana has provided 8 million dollars for the private sector towards the forest plantation development project.

The project aimed at sustaining the management of the nation's forest and help increase the forest cover by at least 10,000 hectares annually.

Dr.Christina Amoako-Nuama, Minister of Lands and Forestry announced this in a speech read for her at the opening of a two-day national conference on youth in forestry in Accra. She said the present forest cover of Ghana is a mere at 1.7 million hectares from about 8.2 million hectares at the beginning of the century.

"The forest is being decimated at a rate of 750,000 hectares per annum. The implication is that if the phenomenon is not checked, the country could be without any forest cover within the next few decades", she told the seminar, organised by the Evergreen Club of Ghana, an environmental NGO.

Dr Amoako-Nuama called on all parties involved in forest management to check "this alarming trend, which endangers not only the stakes of the present generation but also future ones."

She said the ministry, in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service and the local communities, is embarking on wild fire control project in the transitional zone where the incidence of bush fire is high.

She said the Ministry is restricting mining activities to only two per cent of the forest estate of the country, the bulk of which is expected to involve underground mining. The Minister called on the youth to avail themselves, of the opportunity to secure employment in the forest related projects.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, Okyehene who was the guest of honour said all Ghanaians must have a stake in the maintenance of the forest. "We should all ensure that the great heritage passed on from our ancestors to us is also passed on to our children and their children." He cautioned chain saw operators against further degradation of the forest cover.

Ms Sakeena Bonsu, Director of Evergreen Club of Ghana said for sustainable forestry to be achieved, "we must involve the youth and children in its management."