Ayirebi (E/R), Aug. 2, GNA-Madam Rose Otchere, Headmistress of Topease Methodist Basic School in the Eastern Region, on Friday cautioned that the wanton destruction of the forest could have a devastating effect on future generations. Madam Otchere, who was speaking at a community gathering at the school's premises at Topease, told the people that, should the practice persist the ecology could also be affected adversely. According to her, cutting down trees indiscriminately without replacing them contravened the law, and that one could be arrested for not obtaining permit from the Forestry Service Commission. She expressed concern about the activities of some communities felling

precious tree species meant for furniture, such as sapele and cutting them into pieces for firewood for sale and therefore, advised them to desist from such practices. The Headmistress advised the gathering, mostly resident farmers and parents to endeavour to embark on re-forestation programmes to re-stock the depleting forests so as to enhance the ecology. Madam Otchere asked the people to involve themselves actively in communal labour and to initiate their own self-help projects to help accelerate the pace of development. "In this way, we can improve our sanitation and also enhance our living conditions," she advised. The Headmistress seized the opportunity to inform them to take advantage of the government's capitation grant in order to send their children to school, adding; "education brings development".